OFE and Fraunhofer ISI have produced an ambitious study for the European Commission on the impact of Open Source Software and Hardware on technological independence, competitiveness and innovation in the EU. It is meant to be the reference study guiding open source-relevant policy for the coming years, but is relevant for jurisdictions globally. Open Source is not only a good path of digital transition for businesses and governments thanks to its reusability, transparency and innovation potential, but also based on its share in Europe’s GDP and economic activity.
Our research indicates that the economic impact of Open Source on the European economy was between EUR 65 and EUR 95 billion in 2018 and in the same year, EU countries and companies made significant investments into Open Source surpassing EUR 1 billion. The products of these investments are available for reuse to private and public sector and highly advance development and innovation.
Historical data shows clearly that Open Source has contributed immensely to economic growth in Europe, but if supported with relevant policies and actions, it could boost EU’s economic landscape even more. For example, if Open Source code contributions increased by 10% annually, European Union’s GDP would generate additional EUR 70 billion and could boost the number of ICT start-ups by 1,000.
Our panellists will discuss these results and policies that could support European economy and openness in digital for a more innovative and competitive ICT landscape. We will announce additional speakers soon.
Agenda
17:00 – 17:05
Welcome by OFE
17:05 – 17:15
Keynote: Pierre Chastanet
17:15 – 17:40
Study Results Presentation: Knut Blind
17:40 – 18:30
Panel discussing policy dimensions
- Knut Blind, Fraunhofer ISI
- Pierre Chastanet, European Commission
- Jutta Cordt, German Ministry of the Interior
- Raegan MacDonald, Mozilla
- Moderator: Andrew Katz, Moorcrofts LLP
Speakers
Knut Blind
Prof. Dr. Knut Blind studied economics, political science and psychology at Freiburg University. In the course of his studies he spent one year at Brock University (Canada), where he was awarded a BA. Finally, he took his Diploma in Economics and later his doctoral degree at Freiburg University. Between 1996 and 2010 he joined the Fraunhofer Institute for Systems and Innovation Research, Karlsruhe, Germany, as a senior researcher and at last as head of the Competence Center “Regulation and Innovation”.
In April 2006 Knut Blind was appointed Professor of Innovation Economics at the Faculty of Economics and Management at the Technische Universität Berlin. Between 2008 and 2016 he held also the endowed chair of standardisation at the Rotterdam School of Management of the Erasmus University. From April 2010 he is linked to the Fraunhofer Institute of Open Communication Systems in Berlin. In 2012, he initiated both the Berlin Innovation Panel and the German Standardization Panel. Besides numerous articles on innovation he published further contributions on standardization, patents and further innovation aspects in refereed journals.
