This talk explores the similarities and differences in how organizations from the private and public sectors engage with Open Source. It highlights the growing relevance of Open Source for the digital economy and digital sovereignty, and examines typical organizational models for Open Source communities, including how both sectors can effectively collaborate with them.

A key focus will be on how Open Source can be leveraged as a competitive advantage — outlining not only the benefits, but also the challenges organizations face when embracing it.

These insights will be illustrated through the case of LibreOffice, the free and open source office productivity suite, serving as a role model for sustainable Open Source collaboration.

By Lothar K. Becker