Moorcrofts CEO and Head of Tech and IP, Andrew Katz has been named the expert to lead the Open Hardware section of the contract awarded to OpenForum Europe and Fraunhofer ISI to conduct the study on the impact of Open Source Software and Hardware on technological independence, competitiveness and innovation in the EU economy.

It is a long-awaited initiative, serving as a scientific basis for future Open Source policymaking in Europe and with a potential global impact.

Today, virtually all software products include Open Source software components, an increasingly large percentage of crucial software platforms and programs are entirely Open Source and the development and uptake of Open Source Hardware and Open Silicon are growing. The impact of this paradigm shift from proprietary systems to more open, collaborative frameworks is being studied by many. However, there is no up-to-date, comprehensive synthesis of the EU market and key industrial sectors, and where we stand in comparison to the rest of the world. This is necessary for fact-based policymaking in the future aimed at maximising the benefits of Open for the digital transformation.

The ultimate goal of this study is to provide a solid evidence-based platform for shaping European Open Source policies for the years to come. The study will identify strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and challenges of Open Source in relevant ICT policies such as cybersecurity, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Digitizing European industry, the connected car, HPC, Big Data, Distributed Ledger Technologies.

The study will conclude with a list of policy recommendations that can augment and accelerate the benefits of Open Source for a competitive EU software and hardware industry and a sustainable transformation of the EU economy.

Andrew Katz, said:

“This is the first time Open Hardware has been mentioned in a study of this size which demonstrates that Open Hardware is coming of age and is crucial to the European economy during the next decade. I am looking forward to deepening my relationship with Open Hardware developers and users across Europe.”

Input from the broad Openness community will be crucial for the success of this project. It is a unique chance to contribute to shaping future Open Source policies in the EU and beyond. Support Open Source by getting involved in our network of global experts and drive change in several industries. If you are interested in participating in the study, contact Paula Grzegorzewska, responsible for community and expert engagement.