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Open Source software usage by European Public Administrations

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OSEPA

INTERREG IVC

Title: Open Source software usage by European Public Administrations

Acronym: OSEPA

Coordinator: Central Union of Municipalities and Communities, Greece

Partners:

  • Kraj Vysocina Region, CzechRepublic,
  • Foundation for the Development of Science & Technology in Extremadura, Spain,
  • MFG Baden-Wurttemberg - Innovation Agency for ICT and Media, Germany
  • Swedish Association of Municipalities for Joint Development of eServices, Sweden
  • Emilia-Romagna Region, Italy
  • City of Schoten, Belgium
  • Association of Local & Regional Governments, Latvia
  • Municipallity of Bistrita, Romania
  • The University of Sheffield, UK
  • Research Academic Computer Technology Institute, Greece
  • Strovolos Municipality, Cyprus
  • Interfusion Services Ltd (subcontractor)

FOSS represents a potential of significant competitiveness gains of its adopters, both for public administrations as well as citizens and companies. As a result, it is of vital importance to examine how and whether appropriate public policies can alleviate barriers and inhibitors rendering the potential benefits of FOSS actual ones and enhancing the competitiveness of European economies.

Public administrations can play a unique role as a catalyst force in demonstrating the value of FOSS and in removing legal and organisational obstacles and inhibitors by acting as early adopters. OSEPA aims to explore this potential through interregional cooperation and to cultivate a debate among public administrations in this direction with a view to:

  • Analyse, promote knowledge and foster awareness on the main benefits and disadvantages, cost evidence and effectiveness resulting from FOSS adoption and use.
  • Explore, identify, build consensus on the framework conditions enabling FOSS to become a technically, financially, legally viable alternative offering of IT solutions.
  • Explore, identify, build consensus on and promote European, national and regional policies and approaches that may facilitate the emergence of FOSS as a mature and viable business model.
  • Promote awareness, exchange and disseminate knowledge, good practice and case studies regarding technical, financial and legal aspects of FOSS adoption by European public administrations in order to reduce uncertainty, inertia and resistance-to-change that limit experimentation and adoption of FOSS software.
  • Discuss and promote the adoption of internal policies, mission statements, methodologies and action plans facilitating European public administrations to experiment, exploit and benefit from FOSS solutions.

OSEPA's main results are:

  • A) Survey of current FOSS usage in at least 20 EU countries.
  • B) A requirements analysis and guidelines on software procurement policies of European Public Administrations.
  • C) Two European conferences will take place. The primary objective is to explore the strategic impact of FOSS adoption and relate it to the existing European Public Administrations' technology and service environments.
  • D) Interregional events (9 Workshops, 6 Study Visits & 6 Site Visits) aiming to facilitate exchange of experiences.
  • E) Good Practice Guide on FOSS use among European Public Administrations.
  • F) Analysis and recommendations on European and National Policies and practices on FOSS.

The project dissemination activities will promote awareness on FOSS and on OSEPA activities targeting

  • a) relevant segments of the public opinion and
  • b) Officers and elected representatives of local regional and national administrations.

The consortium includes four national associations of municipalities and communities, regions, municipalities and knowledge organisations reaching within the consortium 1302 European local and regional Public Administrations.