Strengthening Digital Infrastructure and Open Source Ecosystems in the Public Interest
The Sovereign Tech Fund supports the development, improvement, and maintenance of open digital infrastructure.
Why
Digital sovereignty is central to shaping a future in the public interest. The open source ecosystem serves as the foundation for society's innovative strength, competitiveness and democracy. Digital sovereignty is the self-determined use of digital technologies and systems by individuals, industry, and governments.
What
The Sovereign Tech Fund invests in open digital infrastructure. We understand this to be foundational technologies that enable the creation of other software. These trusted components — for instance, libraries and standards — are openly accessible and free to use. As a result, open digital infrastructure is critical for innovation and economic growth, and forms the foundation for digitalization across sectors. We often don’t notice how much our lives depend on digital infrastructure until it stops working. But making it available, accessible and secure is key for digitalization in the public interest.
How
It is time to invest in digital commons, volunteer communities and the open source ecosystem to build the digital world we want to see. We are working to strengthen the self-determined use of digital technologies and systems by individuals, industry, and governments. The open source ecosystem, while incredibly successful, is also increasingly fragile. Many more people are using the software than contributing to it. We believe supporting openness, co-creation, interdependency and interoperability will lead to digital sovereignty.
Feasibility Study
On the consideration of a support program for open digital enabling technologies as a basis for innovation and digital sovereignty
Pilot Phase Report
Insights from validating the approaches outlined in the Sovereign Tech Fund's feasibility study.