Meta Information
Author: Federal Chancellery FCh
Source: Federal Chancellery - Open Source Software
Publication Date: March 14, 2025
Reading Time of Summary: 5 minutes
Executive Summary
The Swiss federal administration faces a paradigm shift: With the federal law EMBAG (Art. 9), it has been legally obligated since 2023 to publish self-developed software as open source. This obligation not only transforms the IT governance of the federal government but also positions Switzerland as a pioneer in digital sovereignty and creates potential synergy effects worth several million francs annually through multiple use in the federal structure. Executives must ensure by the end of 2025 that their administrative units meet the legal requirements while simultaneously leveraging strategic opportunities for innovation and efficiency gains.
Critical Key Questions
1. Which structural changes could accelerate or slow down the OSS transformation in the coming years?
The decentralized responsibility with no central repository could lead to fragmentation, while building federal platforms (analogous to open-code.de) would massively accelerate adoption.
2. How strong is the dependency on political and societal factors?
The political will for digital sovereignty is legally anchored, but success depends on acceptance in the cantons and the availability of qualified IT professionals.
3. What opportunities arise from early reaction – and what risks threaten from inaction?
Opportunities: Cost reduction through synergies, increased employer attractiveness, innovation advantage. Risks: Legal consequences, reputation loss, missed digitalization opportunities.
Scenario Analysis: Future Perspectives
Short-term (1 year)
- Implementation of EMBAG requirements in all federal offices
- First joint OSS projects between federal government and cantons
- Building internal OSS competencies and community structures
Medium-term (5 years)
- Establishment of a Switzerland-wide OSS platform for all administrative levels
- 30-40% cost reduction in software development through reuse
- Emergence of specialized OSS service providers for the public sector
Long-term (10-20 years)
- Switzerland as an international model for digital sovereignty
- Complete independence from proprietary software monopolies
- OSS as standard throughout public administration
Main Summary
Core Topic & Context
The EMBAG law revolutionizes the federal administration's software strategy through the obligation to publish open source. This affects not only newly developed but potentially also existing software solutions and creates a legal framework for sustainable digitalization.
Key Facts & Figures
- Art. 9 EMBAG: Mandatory OSS publication since 2023
- 11,700+ datasets already published on opendata.swiss
- No central platform: Each authority chooses its own repository
- 9 concrete measures defined for implementation
- 6 strategic objectives for long-term transformation
- Exceptions: Only for third-party rights or security reasons
Stakeholders & Affected Parties
- Primary: All federal offices and administrative units
- Secondary: Cantons, municipalities, IT service providers
- Tertiary: Swiss IT industry, citizens, international community
Opportunities & Risks
Opportunities:
- Cost savings through synergies and multiple use
- Innovation acceleration through community contributions
- Strengthening of digital sovereignty
- Increased employer attractiveness for IT professionals
Risks:
- Compliance risks with insufficient implementation
- Possible security vulnerabilities with improper release
- Know-how loss without structured governance
Action Relevance
- Immediate: Review existing software for EMBAG compliance
- Q2/2025: Establish internal OSS governance structures
- Ongoing: Train employees and build communities
- Strategic: Integration into procurement processes and project management
Verification Status
✅ Facts verified on March 15, 2025