Guest: Gabriele Columbro (LinkedIn)
Organization: Linux Foundation Europe
Show: The Source
Topic: Open Source

Europe’s relationship with open source has always been deep, but a new wave of research from the Linux Foundation Europe shows it’s becoming truly strategic. In this clip, Gabriele Columbro, General Manager of Linux Foundation Europe, unpacks findings from the World of Open Source: Europe report—revealing how the region is turning community-driven technology into a competitive and geopolitical advantage.

According to Columbro, open source is no longer viewed solely as a technical model. It’s now recognized as a foundational component of Europe’s digital sovereignty. “We continue to see open source increasingly recognized as a strategic lever for Europe’s economy and geopolitical balance,” he explains. This shift marks a maturation of the open source ecosystem—where collaboration, transparency, and shared innovation are tied directly to economic independence and global competitiveness.

But the data also points to a clear challenge. While roughly 80% of practitioners understand open source’s strategic value, only about 60% of executives share that view. That 20–30% perception gap has real consequences, slowing adoption and investment. Columbro sees closing this gap as critical for Europe’s long-term digital autonomy. “There’s still a lack of executive awareness,” he notes, “and that’s something the community must address together.”

The Linux Foundation Europe’s report is part of a growing body of data-driven work that includes collaborations with European venture capital firms and a new Chief Economist at the foundation, Frank Nagel. By connecting economic modeling with community insights, LF Europe aims to provide policymakers and businesses alike with the data they need to understand open source’s strategic importance.

Policy engagement is another major theme. As Europe introduces new regulations such as the Cyber Resilience Act and the AI Act, the open source community must take a proactive role. Columbro emphasizes that open source now lives in what he calls “the era of regulated open source.” With 80–90% of modern software built on open components, he argues that policymakers must better understand how open ecosystems function—and that foundations like the Linux Foundation have a duty to engage earlier in the regulatory process.

This growing intersection between open collaboration and public policy is where the Linux Foundation Europe is focusing much of its effort. By bridging the gap between open source contributors, businesses, and governments, Columbro believes Europe can transform its open source ecosystem into a sustainable engine for innovation, sovereignty, and trust.