This contribution, delivered by Sven Thomsen, CIO of the German federal state of Schleswig-Holstein, outlines the state’s pioneering path toward digital sovereignty through Open Source and Open Innovation. It highlights the risks of dependency on proprietary software—including lack of transparency, inflated costs, and reduced security—and positions Open Standards and Open Source as essential for autonomy, resilience, and competitiveness. The speech details Schleswig-Holstein’s concrete migration from proprietary to Open Source solutions across its administration, supported by strategic planning, procurement reforms, and budget shifts. Initiatives such as the state’s Open Source Program Office (OSPO) and innovation hubs foster collaboration between government, industry, academia, and civil society, ensuring sustainable adoption and stimulating regional economic growth. Emphasizing both national security and Europe-wide competitiveness, the keynote calls for collective action to establish Open Source as the new normal in public IT systems, framing the transformation as a shared European mission for digital independence.

Presentation slides