Study: Open source usage in France – Open Source Monitor 2023
On the initiative of the CNLL, Numeum and the Systematic Paris-Region cluster, Markess by Exaegis has published the Open Source Monitor France 2023, a benchmark study of open source use within French companies and government agencies. Based on a quantitative online survey carried out in the 2nd and 3rd quarters among 608 organizations with more than 20 employees, this study has adopted the methodology of theOpen Source Monitor, carried out in 2019, 2021 and 2023 in Germany by Bitkom, the federal union for the digital and telecoms industries, to enable comparisons at European level and by business sector.
The Open Source Monitor France 2023 was presented on December 6 at theOpen Source Experience 2023 at the Palais des Congrès in Paris. It benefited from the support and valuable insights of its partners: Alliance Libre, Bluemind, Cigref, Dinum, Docaposte, Eclipse Foundation, OVHcloud, PLOSS-RA, Red Hat France, Smile, SoLibre TOSIT and Worteks.
Undeniable openness to open source: almost 2/3 of private and public sector organizations say they are open, or even very open, to open source software. More than 8 out of 10 companies use open source technologies, and 9 out of 10 organizations in the public sector. The size of the organization has an influence on behavior, with SMEs being less open and less frequent users than large corporations. The sectors that make most use of open source are IT and telecoms, banking and insurance, and the automotive industry. More than a third of companies and public authorities adapt source code for internal use.
Recognized benefits… and disincentives to use: ” The good reputation of open source and its impact on the employer brand represent a major asset, particularly for government agencies,” notes Marc Palazon, Chairman of Numeum’s Open Source Committee. The security and stability of open source technologies are also cited as major advantages, with limited cost remaining an important benefit “. Paradoxically, some organizations feel that stability and security also represent a barrier to use, and regret the lack of certification. They are also held back by the high training requirements and lack of specialists.
An asset for major digital challenges: ” 9 out of 10 public and private organizations see open source as a major asset for the digital sovereignty of France and Europe,” emphasizes Stéfane Fermigier, co-president of the CNLL. Open source also plays a role in accelerating or facilitating the energy and ecological transition, according to 80% of companies – particularly in the IT & telecoms and automotive industries – and even 90% of public administrations “.
Solution choices guided by functionality: ” Solution functionality, open source license and security indicators are the top 3 criteria for choosing open source solutions,” analyzes Pierre Baudracco, President of Systematic Paris-Region’s Open Source Hub. ” The possibility of integration with other open source solutions in use, and the reputation of the community associated with the solution are also important factors .
The key role of partners: “Nearly 80% of organizations use an ESN for the development, integration or outsourcing of open source solutions, in both the corporate and public sectors,” observes Marc Palazon. By contrast, on average, only one organization in five uses open source software vendors for its projects. The role played by foundations and consulting firms in providing support is also worth noting.
Broad participation in open source development: ” More than half of public and private organizations have employees involved in community projects,” says Stéfane Fermigier. Half of companies and a third of public sector bodies are also involved in open source, through their purchases of support services or subscriptions from open source publishers “. Overall, 75% of companies and 87% of public sector bodies are involved in open source development in one way or another.
Governance practices in the making: “A third of companies and almost half of government agencies have established a cross-functional strategy for the use of open source,” sums up Pierre Baudracco. In total, 7 out of 10 organizations, whether public or private, have put in place a policy for the use, participation, integration or development of open source. In the public sector, one organization in five has set up an Open Source Program Office (OSPO) – a central entity managing open source issues globally – compared with less than one company in ten. Indeed, central government agencies have been at the forefront of this field since the launch of the European Commission’s OSPO in 2020.
Whether we’re talking about technological, economic or environmental priorities, open source has become strategic for our country’s businesses and administrations. What remains for a significant proportion of these organizations is to put in place a genuine policy of using open source software, through the purchase of solutions or participation in open source projects. This also means that French and European public authorities must take full account of the specific features of our industry when drawing up their digital and industrial policies.
