Adriana Groh: The internet works thanks to a shared infrastructure that nobody owns, but that we must take care of'

"All programmers, from hobbyists to those working at Microsoft or Google, use open-source software, which is present in between 70% and 90% of the computer applications we use today. No one starts a project from scratch; instead, they turn to libraries like GitHub or GitLab to download packages of code already written, reviewed, and improved by the community. Developers spend an average of two-thirds of their time adapting open-source software to their needs, and they build their application on top of that."

"That's why if there is a security flaw in that code, everyone, from Apple or Meta to the German or Spanish government, has a problem, explains Adriana Groh. Groh, 35, is the director general of the German government's Sovereign Tech Agency, a pioneering institution in Europe dedicated to maintaining the common digital infrastructure. In her view, the path to European technological sovereignty, which has gained momentum since Donald Trump's return to the White House, hinges on ensuring a solid foundation for open-source software."

Open-source software is present in between 70% and 90% of computer applications and is used by programmers from hobbyists to employees at large tech firms. Projects rarely start from scratch; developers reuse packages from repositories like GitHub and GitLab and spend about two-thirds of their time adapting those components. Security flaws in commonly reused code create systemic risks affecting companies and governments. The German government's Sovereign Tech Agency is a government-owned limited liability company that ran a successful fund, now develops standards, participates in public procurement, plans talent programs, and promotes an international blueprint for achieving software sovereignty. Software sovereignty is framed as a 21st-century governmental responsibility.

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