Insights from UN Open Source Week 2025

SUSE was proud to contribute to a global forum at the United Nations during Open Source Week 2025. The week-long event was co-hosted by the United Nations Office for Digital and Emerging Technologies and the United Nations Office of Information and Communications Technology, where representatives from all sectors discussed the future role of open source to solve world issues.

A few key themes during the week highlighted open source as a critical enabler for digital public goods and sustainable digital transformation, aligning with global priorities like the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and responsible AI.

Open Source: A Catalyst for Global Digital Cooperation

A key theme was open source’s ability to unite people worldwide to address pressing challenges, exemplifying transparency, volunteerism, and rapid innovation. There’s a notable shift in governmental and UN perspectives, with open source now seen as essential for building resilient digital infrastructure and public goods. This includes Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) — shared digital systems like digital ID, payments, and registries — built with open source to ensure accessibility, transparency, and adaptability for all nations. SUSE, as a leader in enterprise grade open source software, has long been a driving force for innovating digital infrastructure globally.

Aligning Open Source with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Open source is a natural ally to the SDGs, enabling scalable, cost-effective, and inclusive solutions for challenges in health, education, and environmental sustainability. The collaborative ethos of open source mirrors the SDG principle of global partnership.

Responsible AI: Ethics, Workforce, and Governance

The intersection of open source and responsible AI was a major theme. Workforce strategies rooted in responsible AI principles can drive economic growth, sustainability, and ethical progress, with a consensus that AI adoption must prioritize environmental stewardship and social good. Discussions also covered the evolving landscape of AI regulation, emphasizing the need for open, transparent, and accountable AI systems.

Katerina Arzhayev, Débora Noronha and Brendan Bulmer at UN Open Source Week

Digital Sovereignty

Digital sovereignty was a key concept at the UN Open Source Week, defined as the right of every country and citizen to access, control, and modify their data, empowering citizens and policymakers and shifting governance. The discussions highlighted that there’s no inherent conflict between global standards and local needs in achieving digital sovereignty; instead, interoperability and context-sensitive implementation are both possible and desirable through global cooperation via open standards and multinational collaborative governance, which can respect sovereignty and prevent fragmentation. By embracing open source, governments can avoid vendor lock-in and ensure the long-term control and resilience of their digital infrastructure.

The Evolving Role of Open Source Program Offices (OSPOs)

Open Source Program Offices are strategic hubs to guide open source adoption, foster collaboration, and align with both business goals and societal needs. OSPOs are recognized for bridging the gap between private sector innovation and public sector needs, facilitating partnerships that accelerate the development and deployment of digital public goods. They are evolving beyond compliance and cost savings to become crucial cultural and strategic connectors, though overcoming institutional resistance to open collaboration, especially in academia and government, remains a challenge.

Challenges and Next Steps

As open source is foundational to global digital infrastructure, ensuring its security, sustainability, and ethical use is paramount. Regulatory efforts like the EU Cyber Resilience Act present both challenges and opportunities. The well-being of open source maintainers and contributors is critical, with calls for more support, recognition, and funding.

The event concluded with a call to action: moving beyond discussion to accelerate the implementation of open source solutions for the SDGs, responsible AI, and digital public infrastructure. Concrete next steps include forming new partnerships, launching pilot projects, and advocating for open source-friendly policies at national and international levels.