GitHub Advocates for EU Sovereign Tech Fund to Bolster Open Source

GitHub is championing the creation of a European Sovereign Tech Fund (EU-STF) to address chronic underfunding in open source software maintenance. The initiative, led by GitHub's developer policy team, seeks EU-wide support to replicate Germany's Sovereign Tech Agency model at a continental scale.

Open source software underpins global digital infrastructure, contributing an estimated €65-95 million annually to the EU economy. Despite its $8.8 trillion value to worldwide markets, maintenance funding remains disproportionately low. The proposed fund WOULD consolidate resources from EU institutions, national governments, and private sector players.

Two structural frameworks are under consideration: a centralized EU institution or a member-state consortium. The MOVE highlights growing recognition of open source as critical infrastructure, demanding systematic support comparable to physical assets.