United Nations Forum Elevates InnerSource as Essential Tool for Open Source Scaling
Mercedes-Benz Tech Innovation, Bosch Digital, CURIOSS, BBC, and Dutch Tax Administration Join Forces to Discuss InnerSource as Key Driver for Open Collaboration
NEW YORK, June 20, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The United Nations hosted its first-ever InnerSource panel, marking a significant acknowledgment of this methodology as a cornerstone of organizational transformation and the adoption of open source principles. The distinguished panel featured global leaders from Mercedes-Benz Tech Innovation, Bosch Digital, CURIOSS, BBC, and Dutch Tax Administration, highlighting how InnerSource practices have been critical in driving unprecedented levels of cooperation across private sector enterprises, academic and research institutions, and government agencies worldwide.
UN Open Source Week, hosted by the UN Office of Digital and Emerging Technologies (UN-ODET) and the UN Office of Information and Communications Technology (UN-OICT), engaged with the InnerSource Commons Foundation to organize this panel. The Chair of the Foundation, Dr. Daniel Izquierdo Cortázar led the esteemed guests of the panel. The event demonstrated the growing momentum behind InnerSource adoption as entities increasingly recognize the need for transparent, cooperative approaches to software development that eliminate traditional silos while maintaining security and governance standards.
Georg Grütter, Chief Expert of InnerSource at Bosch Digital, kicked off the panel with an engaging skit addressing the common struggles that businesses face—challenges that InnerSource solves. Representatives from private companies, public services, and NGOs acted out the all-too-familiar difficulty of working cooperatively across departments and agencies. It was well received by the packed room, as the audience laughed and nodded in recognition as the story unfolded.
Karel Rietveld, Specialist Open Source Software within the CTO Office for the Dutch Tax Administration, shared their open source journey and how InnerSource has played an essential role. "It has helped build connections throughout our organization," he stated. "We have seen growing demand across our engineering teams, as it has eased knowledge building and transfer."
Panelists highlighted the emerging trend of government agencies worldwide investing in and practicing these approaches to drive cooperation between interdependent agencies. BBC Principal Software Engineer Tom Sadler expressed that their practice has been a driving factor in capturing the value of open source development as a company. This shift represents a fundamental change as the public sector moves towards shared platforms that maximize public investment and improve service delivery.
Both private companies shared how their implementations have not only transformed their internal development practices but have also advanced their external partnerships with contributors. Dr. Wolfgang Gehring, FOSS Ambassador/OSPO Lead at Mercedes-Benz Tech Innovation, spoke to the vital role InnerSource practices played in open source adoption, citing their inclusion in the company's highly referenced FOSS Manifesto. The importance of purpose, culture, and communication was emphasized throughout the discussion of scaling collaborative development.
These practices have proven instrumental in building and growing trust across companies, institutions, and NGOs. Clare Dillon, Community Lead at CURIOSS, noted, "The difference between open source and InnerSource is context. When you practice InnerSource, individuals and teams have the capacity to shape policies and processes to build a culture of trust." Such trust-based environments are increasingly sought after for their ability to accelerate innovation and transformation.
These insights encourage leaders worldwide to consider InnerSource as a strategic approach to digital transformation, emphasizing that the benefits extend far beyond software development to include improved transparency, enhanced teamwork, and more effective use of public resources.
About the InnerSource Commons Foundation
The InnerSource Commons Foundation is a 501(c)(3) public charity that supports and connects over 3,000 individuals from more than 800 companies, academic institutions, and government agencies worldwide. Founded in 2015, the InnerSource Commons empowers organisations and people worldwide to apply and gain the benefits of open collaboration in their internal work. The Foundation facilitates the creation and sharing of knowledge about InnerSource, providing organizations with resources, community support, and best practices for implementing collaborative development methodologies within their internal operations.
CONTACT: Addie Girouard, Director of Communications, InnerSource Commons Foundation, Email: addie@innersourcecommons.org, Website: innersourcecommons.org
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SOURCE InnerSource Commons Foundation
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