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Germany

Open-source software in public administrations in Schleswig-Holstein (DE0029)

Overview

At-a-Glance

Action Plan: Germany Action Plan 2019-2021

Action Plan Cycle: 2019

Status: Active

Institutions

Lead Institution: Schleswig-Holstein Ministry of Energy, Agriculture, the Environment, Nature and Digitalization

Support Institution(s): Dataport A. ö. R., Altenholzer Straße 10-14, 24161 Altenholz

Policy Areas

Subnational

IRM Review

IRM Report: Pending IRM Review

Starred: Pending IRM Review

Early Results: Pending IRM Review

Design i

Verifiable: Pending IRM Review

Relevant to OGP Values: Not Relevant

Potential Impact: Pending IRM Review

Implementation i

Completion: Pending IRM Review

Description

What is the public problem that the commitment will address?
The digital services proffered and used
by our public administrations constitute
critical infrastructure for our democracy.
Complete control of the software employed
and of the computer systems is essential
to their trustworthiness.
To fulfil their duties, administrative
institutions require reliable software, the
procurement of which ensures freedom
of choice, adaptability and competition,
and which grants them complete control
of their own digital infrastructure without
making them economically or technologically dependent on any third party.
Public bodies in particular should avoid the
high costs of commercial software being
compounded by undesirable side-effects
– such as loss of confidentiality and/or
integrity of data processing, lack of control
with respect to the onward development
of solutions, or insufficient implementation of new or amended legal provisions
– caused by software providers having
exclusive rights over the development of
their products.
In the context of deploying software
packages, public trust in the state’s
technological sovereignty, especially as
regards its defence of the confidentiality
and integrity of data processing, is of the
highest priority. We are therefore following
a new and durable path in the context of IT
infrastructure in pursuit of more autonomy
in production as well as greater IT security
and data protection.

What is the commitment?
When it comes to developing software
for specialist applications, the goal is
open-source development. To achieve
that ambition, we will revise the relevant
procurement conditions, among other
activities. Schleswig-Holstein will provide access to
an online platform on which members of the public can examine, comment on and
discuss software the Land has commissioned.
In data centres, the use of open-source
software (OSS) technologies will be tested
and implemented. This will chiefly affect
server systems and databases set up with
or replaced by OSS.
In piloting an OSS-equipped workstation
for administrative bodies, we are seizing
the opportunity to avoid contractual and
financial dependence (on, for instance,
commercially available cloud infrastructure), prevent undesirable data leakage
and reduce licencing costs.

How will the commitment contribute to
solving the public problem?
Making the software used in administrative procedures open to examination
facilitates a high level of transparency.
Open licences make it possible for other
users to exploit and further develop the
software, which may well result in savings
for the taxpayer. Ideally, SchleswigHolstein will benefit in turn from other’s
developments of the OSS.
Using OSS in data centres will prevent the
growth of monopolistic structures and
entrenched dependence on major global IT
companies. What is more, using open data formats
will ensure freedom of choice and competition, since it will enable smaller and
regional businesses to participate in the
development of software. This may prove
a boon to software SMEs enhancing the
environment for investment in technological innovation.

Why is this commitment relevant to OGP values?
Creating transparency about the software used for administrative procedures
facilitates the independent oversight,
financial transparency and traceability of
automatic processes as well as long-term
use of the software.
The Land’s collaborative open-source
platform will give members of the public
the chance to play a part in the ongoing
evolution of the Land administration.
The use of open-source software boosts
competition and thereby prevents the
Schleswig-Holstein administrative
authorities becoming dependent on a
small number of companies.

Commitments

  1. Participatory development of research and innovation policy

    DE0022, 2019, Public Participation

  2. Participatory creation of regulatory policy

    DE0023, 2019, Public Participation

  3. Digital strategy pilot for rural regions

    DE0024, 2019, Public Service Delivery

  4. Open government in North Rhine-Westphalia

    DE0025, 2019, E-Government

  5. Policy co-creation in North Rhine-Westphalia

    DE0026, 2019, Land & Spatial Planning

  6. Data sovereignty in North Rhine-Westphalia

    DE0027, 2019, E-Government

  7. Open government portal in Saxony

    DE0028, 2019, Civic Space

  8. Open-source software in public administrations in Schleswig-Holstein

    DE0029, 2019, Subnational

  9. Regional Open Government Labs

    DE0016, 2019, OGP

  10. Civil Society Consulation on Foreign Policy

    DE0017, 2019,

  11. Create youth strategy

    DE0018, 2019, Marginalized Communities

  12. Craete federal agency for digital innovation

    DE0019, 2019,

  13. Transparency and participation in international aid

    DE0020, 2019,

  14. Strengthen and socialize open data policy

    DE0021, 2019, Open Data

  15. Conditions for OGP Participation

    DE0001, 2017, OGP

  16. Open Data in Administrative Practice

    DE0002, 2017, Capacity Building

  17. Open Data Environment

    DE0003, 2017, Capacity Building

  18. Access to Spatial Data

    DE0004, 2017, Capacity Building

  19. Financial Transparency - EITI Standard

    DE0005, 2017, E-Government

  20. Transparency in Development Policy

    DE0006, 2017, Aid

  21. Open Data for Intelligent Mobility

    DE0007, 2017, E-Government

  22. Citizen Participation in Environmental Policy and Urban Development

    DE0008, 2017, Capacity Building

  23. Electronic Procedures for Family Benefits

    DE0009, 2017, E-Government

  24. Knowledge Network for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Intersex People

    DE0010, 2017, E-Government

  25. Local Alliances for Family Initiative

    DE0011, 2017, Public Participation

  26. Share of Women and Men in Leadership Positions, Private and Private Sectors

    DE0012, 2017, E-Government

  27. Open Access to Academic Literature

    DE0013, 2017, E-Government

  28. Science Year 2018

    DE0014, 2017, Public Participation

  29. Federal Competition “Living Together Hand in Hand”

    DE0015, 2017, Citizenship and Immigration