In September, the 4th edition of the Bitkom Open Source Monitor was published as part of the Bitkom Forum Open Source in Erfurt. This comprehensive study builds on previous research from 2019, 2021, and 2023. Every time, more than 1.000 enterprises with at least 20 employees, selected representatively for size and branches, as well as 100 public administration organizations, were interviewed about their use of open source software.
The results of the Bitkom Open Source Monitor 2025 are varied, but there is one general outcome: OSS use is growing – nevertheless, there is often a lack in strategy, skilled staff, and budget.
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The majority of German companies are open-minded towards OSS, and by now 73 % are actively using it (though mostly internally, without adapting the source code).
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In the public sector, open source has also arrived: More than two thirds of organizations and agencies are using it.
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Open source software is seen by the majority as a means to strengthen digital sovereignty, and 60 % of the companies are asking the government to invest more to avoid dependencies.
Compared to the last edition of the Bitkom Open Source Monitor from 2023, changes in open-source software application and image are evident. Companies – as well as public administrations – are beginning to see the true advantages of open source software: aside from saving money, it provides flexibility, innovation and IT security.
OSS can be a strategic lever for digital sovereignty and resilience, but German companies and agencies are not yet fully reaping the potentials it offers.
The Bitkom Open Source Monitor 2025 is freely available as PDF download here.
The Bitkom OSM is supported by Kernkonzept, as we are a member of the Open Source Monitor project group, which is a part of the Bitkom Open Source Working Group. The members are also sponsoring the publication, because obtaining this data is generally expensive and would not be possible without support.
In 2025, companies from a wide range of sectors were involved: Bitsea, Bosch, Eclipse Foundation, Giesecke and Devrient, Kernkonzept, Nordemann, Osborne Clarke, Public Plan, RedHat, PwC, SAP, Siemens, SUSE, and ZenDis. You are invited to participate in planning, designing, and evaluating this study as a member of this group.