3. As Digital Infrastructure Evolves: Poland Surveys Its Open-Source Ecosystem for the Next Generation of Public Services

Much of modern public administration runs quietly behind screens. Email, documents, calendars, cloud systems and communication platforms have become part of the everyday machinery of local government, even when citizens rarely see the software beneath them.

Poland is now examining how more of that digital infrastructure could be supported by open-source software. The Digital Poland Foundation announced on September 28 that it was mapping the country’s open-source market on behalf of the Ministry of Digital Affairs.

The work is intended to identify organizations with expertise in open-source licensing, IT architecture, cybersecurity, implementation, training and technical support. Local governments are also being invited to identify companies and organizations with which they have worked on open-source projects.

The market assessment is connected to a planned competition for pilot implementations of open-source software in local government. Areas under consideration include office applications, email, instant messaging, video conferencing and cloud services.

The initiative follows a broader digitalization strategy introduced earlier in 2026. Poland’s national digitalization strategy includes a dedicated section on open-source software and outlines plans involving an open-source program office, a repository platform and support for public-sector adoption.

Existing research shows how significant the potential change could be. A Polish Economic Institute report published in June found that 92.4% of surveyed public administration entities used Microsoft office suites, while 46.5% used Microsoft email services. The same report found that 41.8% of surveyed entities using Microsoft office software were considering open-source alternatives.

The discussion is therefore not simply about replacing one software package with another. Open-source systems can require implementation expertise, integration work, cybersecurity support and long-term maintenance. Poland’s current market mapping explicitly seeks organizations capable of providing those services.

For local authorities, the practical question is how a new system would function after installation. Software may be freely available, but reliable public services still require people who can maintain infrastructure, address vulnerabilities, train employees and adapt systems as needs change.

The planned pilot approach reflects that reality. Earlier consultations by the Ministry of Digital Affairs proposed funding for implementation, user training, security measures and technical support during the testing period.

The current market-mapping process is scheduled to accept submissions until October 10. The information collected is expected to contribute to a database and a report describing Poland’s open-source expertise and ecosystem relevant to local government.

The movement toward open-source technology is therefore taking shape gradually, through research, consultations and pilot planning rather than a single nationwide switch. For Poland’s municipalities, the coming experiments could provide practical evidence about what works, what requires additional support and how shared software can fit into the daily architecture of public services.