Digital-Gipfel: Sechs Bundesländer starten Open-Source-Bildungsplattform

Six German federal states are pioneering an open-source educational platform to enhance digital sovereignty in the educational sector. The participating states include Berlin, Bremen, Hamburg, Hesse, North Rhine-Westphalia, and Rhineland-Palatinate. They have agreed on a framework contract to establish a digitally sovereign open-source educational platform, which will not rely on software from US tech giants like Microsoft or Google.

The software foundation for this solution comes from the Stuttgart-based company Nextcloud, while the infrastructure is provided by the Berlin hosting provider Ionos. The procurement will be managed through the public-private consortium Govdigital eG, enabling the states to acquire the solution without the need for new bidding processes.

This project represents a significant step towards reducing dependence on major US corporations, especially in school settings where early exposure to digital tools can shape students' proficiency. The platform aims to provide a privacy-compliant alternative that adheres to the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and protects against potential US government access, such as that permitted by the US Cloud Act.

Frank Karlitschek, the founder and CEO of Nextcloud, views the agreement as a strategic move, emphasizing the public sector's crucial role in establishing European software solutions. He stresses the need for European champions to achieve digital sovereignty and strengthen the European software sector, suggesting that the state can act as a flagship customer to drive the development of such alternatives by generating demand.

The six states will jointly launch this initiative, following examples set by early adopters like Schleswig-Holstein, which has been operating with Nextcloud solutions independently for nearly two years and does not participate in the current procurement package. The new platform will offer a comprehensive range of features, including file sharing, chat, video conferencing, email, calendar, and office applications, catering not only to the education sector but also serving as a model for the broader public sector and private industry.