In a move aimed at increasing digital sovereignty within the education sector, six German states have launched a new open-source educational platform designed to operate without software from US tech giants like Microsoft or Google. The agreement was reached between Berlin, Bremen, Hamburg, Hesse, North Rhine-Westphalia, and Rhineland-Palatize during the federal government's Digital Summit in Berlin. The technical foundation of this solution is provided by Nextcloud, a Stuttgart-based company, while the infrastructure will be hosted by the Berlin provider Ionos.
The procurement process is being managed through the cooperative Govdigital eG, which serves as the central alliance for public IT service providers in Germany. This arrangement allows the participating states to acquire the solution without undergoing new tender procedures. Experts view this project as a significant step toward reducing dependence on large US corporations, particularly in schools where students are early adopters of digital tools. The platform is intended to serve as a data protection-compliant alternative that meets GDPR requirements and offers protection against access by US authorities under mechanisms such as the US Cloud Act.
Frank Karlitschek, founder and CEO of Nextcloud, described the agreement as a strategic milestone for establishing European software solutions. He emphasized that the public sector plays a crucial role in this process, acting as a "lighthouse customer" whose demand enables the development of such alternatives. Karlitschek noted to dpa that the initiative does not require funding subsidies but rather relies on these key customers to strengthen the European software sector. While Schleswig-Holstein has independently used Nextcloud solutions for about two years and is not part of this specific procurement package, the new platform aims to serve as a model for the entire public service and private sectors.
The platform will provide schools with a wide range of functions, including file exchange, chat, video conferencing, email, calendar management, and office applications. By consolidating these tools into a single sovereign ecosystem, the six states aim to create a sustainable framework that can eventually be adopted beyond the education sector.
Sources: Handelsblatt.