Connecting Open Source Projects with Public Institutions
Session Abstract
Public institutions increasingly rely on open-source software but lack direct ties to its maintainers. This talk proposes institutionalizing exchange channels to share roadmaps and report bugs. By bridging this gap, both developers and the public sector can better align their goals and strengthen critical digital infrastructure.
Session Description
Public institutions across Germany and Europe are increasingly building administrative software on open source libraries. Yet the
open source projects underpinning this infrastructure often lack visibility into who is using their software, what challenges those
users encounter, and which features would be most valuable to the public sector.
I propose to institutionalize the exchange between open source projects and public institutions for mutual benefit — establishing
direct interaction channels to discuss challenges, communicate roadmaps, report bugs, and broadly strengthen the relationship
between maintainers and their public-sector users.
