It has been two years since the Linux Foundation launched its European subsidiary, Linux Foundation Europe, under the leadership of veteran open source leader Gabriele Columbro as general manager. I had the opportunity to sit down with Columbro at the Open Source Summit in Vienna, Austria to discuss how the Foundation has grown over the years. According to Columbro, Linux Foundation Europe now boasts 173 members and oversees five active projects. It has also strengthened its engagement with the European Union on key policy issues, including the CRA and AI Act. Linux Foundation Europe aims to reduce friction for projects with strong European participation by offering benefits such as hosting projects within Europe and applying for European public funding.

“Our tagline is ‘collaborate locally, innovate globally.’ The idea is not to create further fragmentation but to reduce friction for projects that align with strong European participation—whether from a geopolitical or legal standpoint—making it sensible to host them in Europe,” said Columbro. “In addition to all the services and benefits that we provide to our projects and members that we all know and love at the Linux Foundation, Linux Foundation Europe offers key advantages: the ability to host projects within Europe, the opportunity to use euros as primary currency for memberships and funding, and the opportunity to apply for European public funding. We’re rolling out even more benefits, but these are the three critical ones to start with.”

The Foundation has seen significant member growth and increased policy engagement, including a LF Europe roadshow and an advisory board. Challenges include early regulation and compliance with the Cyber Resilience Act (CRA), particularly for small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs). Future focus includes rolling out CRA strategies and fostering open source adoption in Europe.

Linux Foundation Europe’s growth and challenges

• Columbro highlights the Foundation’s growth, mentioning 173 members, five projects, and several more in the pipeline.
• Columbro discusses the Foundation’s engagement with the European Union, particularly in policy work related to the CRA and AI Act.
• The Foundation has had to increase its presence in Brussels to understand the impact of new software regulations on the open source community.

Differences between Linux Foundation Europe and North America

• Columbro explains that Linux Foundation Europe is a subsidiary of the Linux Foundation, aimed at reducing frictions for projects with strong European participation.
• The focus is on collaborating locally and innovating globally, with benefits like hosting projects in Europe, using euros as the primary currency, and applying for European public funding.
• Columbro emphasizes that Linux Foundation Europe adds value by providing opportunities for European participation and compliance with local regulations.

Public Sector Engagement and Policy Work

• When asked about Linux Foundation Europe’s role in fostering open source collaboration, Columbro explains that establishing a local entity has significantly enhanced cooperation, with a dedicated team in Europe to engage with policy makers.
• The Foundation has a policy committee and a strong presence at local events, including the LF Europe roadshow focused on European-relevant topics.
• Columbro mentions the advisory board and the upcoming LF Europe Member Summit to provide feedback and improve services.

Engagement with the Private Sector

• Columbro notes that while there is less public engagement from big tech in Europe, traditional industries are increasingly engaging with open source.
• The Fintech Open Source Foundation (FINOS) has experienced significant growth, with several banks in Europe and the UK participating.
• Columbro expects corporate engagement to grow as more traditional industries undergo digital transformation and realize the importance of open source.

Automotive Industry and Open Source Engagement

• Columbro notes that heavyweight companies like Mercedes Benz and BMW are already members and engage in upstream projects like Automotive Grade Linux (AGL).
• There is potential for more collaboration in industry-specific work, with projects like Open Mobile Hub gaining interest from the automotive industry.
• Columbro looks forward to seeing more vertical-specific projects in the future, similar to FINOS and other industry-focused initiatives.

Challenges of early regulation and CRA Compliance

• When asked about the challenges of early regulation, particularly in reference to CRA, Columbro acknowledges the difficulty of striking a balance between regulatory measures and the evolving maturity of technology.
• The CRA has led to better compliance for large manufacturers, but smaller businesses may struggle with compliance due to lack of resources.
• The Foundation is working on providing standards, tools, and education to help SMBs comply with the CRA.

Engagement with policy makers and Announcements

• Columbro explains that the Foundation is not a lobbying organization but is present in conversations with the parliament and the European Commission.
• The Foundation has been invited to participate in the multi-stakeholder platform for ICT, which harmonizes digital standards.
• Columbro mentions several announcements made at the event, including the move of OpenSearch under the Linux Foundation and the release of Valkey 8.0.

Open Source pipeline and future focus

• Columbro teases upcoming projects from a large European technology company and mentions the focus on rolling out the CRA strategy.
• The strategy includes standardization, tooling, and processes for projects to comply with the CRA, as well as research and enablement.
• The Foundation is considering creating a special interest group or committee to help SMBs implement the CRA.

Challenges and Opportunities in Europe

• Columbro highlights the need for deeper investments in venture capital (VC)-backed startups and the importance of the public sector’s structured engagement.
• The Foundation’s Europe Spotlight report provides insights into the maturing open source ecosystem in Europe.
• Columbro emphasizes the importance of open source as a global language and the need to avoid fragmentation in the open source community.

Guest: Gabriele Columbro (LinkedIn)
Organization: Linux Foundation (Twitter)