Post-Webinar Highlights: Open Source in Cloud Infrastructure for IPCEI-CIS
25, November, 2025
On 19 November 2025, CISERO hosted the webinar “Open Source in Cloud Infrastructure for IPCEI-CIS: Challenges, Opportunities and Strategic Pathways.” The session brought together experts from OpenForum Europe, IDC, VDI TZ, Trust-IT Services, and several IPCEI-CIS projects to discuss the growing strategic role of open-source software (OSS) in Europe’s cloud-edge infrastructure.
Speakers highlighted how open source is becoming a central pillar of Europe’s digital sovereignty — not through protectionism, but through operational control, transparency, and strategic competence. Rather than focusing on where code is written, the conversation centred on Europe’s ability to access, adapt, and maintain essential technologies. New data shows that organisations now adopt open-source AI primarily for auditability and flexibility, not cost, reflecting a maturing ecosystem in which openness is key to trust and competitiveness.
The discussion also underscored that governance and sustainability remain pressing challenges. Licensing compatibility, long-term maintenance, and the gap between consumption and contribution were identified as systemic risks that must be addressed through stronger community engagement and shared stewardship. Project showcases from OpenNebula One NextGen, the NeoNephos, and the Sylva Project demonstrated how open-source platforms are already enabling a more interoperable and sovereign European cloud-edge continuum. Their practical work, ranging from modular cloud orchestration to telco-grade infrastructure, illustrates how implementation-first development can accelerate innovation long before formal standards are established.
Overall, the webinar highlighted a clear shift: open source is no longer an optional accelerator, but a strategic requirement for Europe’s digital future. For the IPCEI-CIS and CISERO community, the key takeaway is that sovereignty will be built through shared competence, sustainable governance models, and active contribution to the open-source projects that underpin Europe’s cloud-edge landscape.