About this talk
This talk, presented by Thibaut Kleiner of the European Commission, explores the EU's strategic approach to enhancing technological sovereignty through open source ecosystems, policy developments, and investments. Recorded at Open Community Experience 2026 in Brussels, the keynote highlights the significance of open source in reducing dependence on non-EU digital infrastructure in areas like cloud, AI, and cybersecurity. The upcoming EU open source strategy, part of the Tech Sovereignty Package, aims to bolster Europe's ability to develop critical technologies with an investment of approximately €800 million in open source research and development initiatives. The session discusses how open source acts as a tool for collaboration and innovation, with applications in software-defined vehicles, data spaces, and AI systems, while addressing sustainability challenges in the maintenance and funding of open source projects.
