In the European technological ecosystem, Open source is making steady progress and consolidates its role in digital strategies. A report prepared by The Linux Foundation in collaboration with Canonical, based on corporate surveys and interviews with specialists (with representation in the EU, the UK, and other European countries), examines how the model is integrated into corporate infrastructures and what legal, regulatory, and management dilemmas are at stake.
The photograph provided by the study reveals a broad consensus: 86% of professionals consider free software essential for the future of their sector, although only 34% report having a clear and visible roadmap for its adoption. In practice, its use is already commonplace: 64% in operating systems, 58% in cloud and container technologies, and 54% in web and application development—figures that illustrate a cross-functional integration in everyday life.
Adoption and main uses in the business community
Beyond the label, the open model has been installed in critical layers of IT: from the system base to service orchestration, to continuous development and deployment platformsThe importance it gains in cloud and container environments demonstrates its natural fit with modern architectures and DevOps practices that require agility and portability.
For technical teams, the combination of public repositories, automation, and active communities facilitates a faster and more auditable software lifecycle; that traceability of code and dependencies It is especially valued when it comes to respond to security incidents or meet compliance requirements.
Benefits that tip the balance
The reasons for adoption show a relevant turn: Saving is no longer the main argumentFor 75% of respondents, software quality is the key advantage; 63% highlight the boost in productivity; 62% emphasize vendor independence; and 55% cite lower total cost of ownership as an important factor, but not the only one.
This perception is explained by the maturity of the ecosystem: predictable release cycles, open review methodologies, and de facto standards reduce friction. The ability to avoid closed dependencies and adapting components to specific needs results in more autonomous teams and products better aligned with business requirements.
Digital sovereignty and geopolitical context
The conversation is no longer just technical. In a volatile global environment, 55% of organizations consider digital sovereignty a priority, with a focus on reducing dependencies on external suppliers and proprietary solutions. This motivation reinforces the interest in open architectures that allow for control of the technological chain and management of regulatory and geopolitical risk.
The report itself also stems from the industry's interest in clarifying the landscape: Canonical, as an ecosystem player, seeks to promote its offering, but the data reflects a broader trend in Europe. Institutions, companies and communities converge on one objective: to strengthen their own capabilities without losing interoperability.
Open AI: From the Lab to Production
Open source artificial intelligence and machine learning are gaining traction. According to the study, 41% of European organizations already use open AI, driven by the maturity of accessible models and tools. The emergence of international projects like DeepSeek has accelerated the race, while European initiatives—for example, Mistral AI—and publicly promoted AI factories point to untapped potential on the continent.
The combination of open models, datasets, and frameworks makes it easier to audit biases, reproduce results, and adapt solutions to local requirements. This approach is key to meeting European requirements. in terms of transparency, security and data protection, while fostering shared innovation.
Organizational obstacles and regulatory pressure
The takeoff coexists with internal deficiencies: 66% lack a formal OSS strategy And 78% still don't have an Open Source Program Office (OSPO). Without clear structures, it's more difficult to coordinate contributions, govern dependencies, manage license compliance, or measure returns.
Among the most cited barriers are: legal and licensing uncertainty (31%) and the fear of exposing intellectual property (24%). Added to this are new regulatory obligations, such as the upcoming Cyber Resilience Act (CRA) and the AI Act, which are pushing to strengthen security processes, component traceability (SBOM), and vulnerability response policies.
What is missing to strengthen the model
The diagnosis is clear: Europe has talent, projects and institutions dedicated to open development., and the benefits are proven. To make the qualitative leap, experts point to three fronts: organizational maturity (strategy and OSPO), greater effective contribution to projects on which we depend, and serious adaptation to regulatory requirements without slowing down innovation.
For those looking to dig deeper, the full report, entitled “Open Source as Europe's Strategic Advantage,” is available. The document compiles data, interviews and recommendations that help guide decisions in a scenario where open source not only means innovation or efficiency, but also a lever of technological autonomy with a direct impact on European competitiveness.