Publication Date: 16.11.2025
1. Overview
- Author: Keystone-SDA Regional Bern
- Source: https://www.nau.ch/news/schweiz/berner-informatik-amt-beteiligt-sich-an-open-source-zentrum-67065993
- Date: 16.11.2025
- Estimated Reading Time: 3 minutes
2. Article Summary
What is it about? The Canton of Bern is committed to building a national center for digital sovereignty to reduce Swiss government dependence on major IT corporations like Microsoft. The topic is highly relevant against the backdrop of geopolitical tensions and risks to digital infrastructure.
Key Facts:
- The IT Department of the Canton of Bern participates financially and with personnel in the Open Source Center of Bern University of Applied Sciences
- The goal is to promote "sovereign" IT alternatives under Swiss control
- The canton recently awarded a contract worth 786,000 Swiss francs for a Microsoft cloud backup solution
- Bern extended its Microsoft contracts in October for three years at 27 million Swiss francs
- Bern University of Applied Sciences wants to apply for federal support from Innosuisse
- A complete Microsoft replacement is not planned
- The federal administration is already testing open source solutions from German authorities
Affected Groups: Swiss administrations at federal, cantonal and municipal levels, citizens as users of digital government services, IT service providers and open source developers.
Opportunities & Risks:
- Opportunities: Increased digital sovereignty, risk minimization in IT failures, promotion of domestic IT industry
- Risks: High costs for dual structures, possible compatibility issues, unclear financing and political support
Recommendations: The project shows a pragmatic approach to risk minimization. Readers should follow the development of the federal strategy and concrete implementation steps.
3. Future Outlook
Short-term (1 year): Decision on Innosuisse funding, first concrete open source pilot projects in Bernese administration, possible participation of additional cantons.
Medium-term (5 years): Building functional open source alternatives for critical administrative applications, gradual diversification of IT landscape, development of coherent federal strategy.
Long-term (10-20 years): Establishment of hybrid IT infrastructure with both commercial and sovereign solutions, possible European cooperation on digital sovereignty, fundamental transformation of administrative IT.
4. Fact Check
The most important figures (786,000 francs for backup solution, 27 million for Microsoft extension) are verifiable through the Simap procurement platform. The statements about the geopolitical situation and risks are assessments by the Kaio representative. [⚠️ Still to be verified] Concrete details about the planned Open Source Center and its financing model.
5. Additional Sources
- Official project website of the federal administration on open source evaluations
- Innosuisse funding guidelines for digital sovereignty projects
- Simap procurement platform for contract details
6. Source List
Original Source: Bernese IT Department Participates in Open Source Center, nau.ch
Additional Sources:
- Simap.ch - Public Procurement Switzerland
- Federal Office for National Economic Supply - Digital Risks
- Bern University of Applied Sciences - Digital Sovereignty Research Projects
Facts Checked: on 16.11.2025
Brief Summary
The Canton of Bern pursues a pragmatic middle path between digital sovereignty and practical IT requirements. The Open Source Center is less revolution than risk minimization in uncertain times. The simultaneous extension of Microsoft contracts shows: Complete independence is unrealistic in the short term, but alternatives are being systematically built up. The project could become a model for other cantons.
Three Key Questions
Transparency: How openly will the Open Source Center communicate about costs, progress and technical challenges - and who controls the use of funds?
Responsibility: What responsibility does the federal government bear for a coherent digital sovereignty strategy when cantons are already going their own ways?
Innovation vs. Dependency: Can Switzerland develop innovative open source solutions without creating new dependencies on individual providers or technologies?