Core Viewpoint - GitHub, owned by Microsoft, advocates for the establishment of a publicly funded "Sovereign Technology Fund" (EU-STF) in the EU to support the development of the open-source software ecosystem, highlighting the disparity between the importance of open-source software and the funding it receives [3][4]. Funding and Economic Impact - Open-source software is estimated to have a demand-side value of $8.8 trillion globally, contributing between €65 billion to €95 billion ($76.5 billion to $111.8 billion) annually to the EU economy [4]. - GitHub calls for at least €350 million ($412 million) from the upcoming EU multiannual budget to support open-source software maintenance, which is a significant burden on tightening public funds [4]. Comparison with Existing Initiatives - The existing Sovereign Technology Fund in Germany started with €1 million ($1.18 million) and grew to just over €23 million ($27 million), while GitHub's proposal aims for a much larger scale [4]. - The report suggests that funding should come from "industry, national governments, and the EU" rather than relying solely on GitHub or Microsoft [5]. Community and Bureaucracy - The report emphasizes minimizing bureaucracy and maintaining political independence, focusing on community needs [6]. - Daniel Stenberg, founder of the cURL project, supports the funding proposal, stating that current digital infrastructure relies heavily on open-source contributions from underfunded teams [6]. Broader Context and Future Steps - OpenUK's CEO Amanda Brock highlights the importance of a comprehensive approach to funding and infrastructure, advocating for a thorough review to ensure effective use of funds [7]. - OpenUK has proposed similar initiatives to the Sovereign Technology Fund, focusing on funding allocation and innovation management [7].