Sovereign Tech Agency

The preliminary agenda for the first

Symposium this October is live! Thanks to

for inviting us to contribute our experience investing in open technologies to the program committee.

Paul Sharratt and Laia Domenech Burin from our Policy & Research team will be in Barcelona. Don’t miss Laia’s talk on the challenges and lessons learned from evaluating our open source software investments.

https://mastodon.social/@opentechnologyresearch/117042130846042505

We’re #hiring a Program Manager to lead our #SovereignTechResilience Program!

In this role, you’ll take hands-on ownership of one of our key programs dedicated to protecting critical #opensource infrastructure. The program includes investments in security audits, memory safety, and post-quantum encryption readiness.

We’re looking for someone with a technical background who can balance the operational demands of a program already in motion with an impact-oriented, strategic perspective.

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Meet the first cohort of the #SovereignTechStandards network! Antoine d’Aligny,

,

, @job, Kacper Dalach,

, Marten Seemann,

, @jugglinmike, and Stephen Curran bring hands-on expertise from critical, open source infrastructure into standards development. Their work will help shape more secure and more interoperable technology.

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Adriana Groh hat für die aktuelle Sonderausgabe des Behörden Spiegels zum Thema digitale Souveränität den Gastbeitrag „Das unsichtbare Fundament digitaler Souveränität“ verfasst.

Das Magazin „Digitale Souveränität in Aktion“, das vergangene Woche erschienen ist, versammelt Perspektiven aus Verwaltung, Wirtschaft und Wissenschaft und beleuchtet aktuelle Entwicklungen rund um ein Thema, das uns alle betrifft.

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For the fourth year in a row, we took part in UN Open Source Week in New York City. In addition to hosting this year’s maintain-a-thon as well as a breakfast reception in the German House, we contributed across multiple sessions, including panels at OSPOs for Good and community-led side events.

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#UNOpenSourceWeek has been a timely moment to discuss how open source software, open standards, and digital public goods can be better governed, funded, and sustained as shared digital infrastructure.

We’re therefore very pleased that the Internet Governance Forum’s Multistakeholder Advisory Group has approved a new Policy Network on Open Digital Infrastructure for the 2026 IGF cycle.

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Final stretch at UN Open Source Week! 🏁

Today, we're joining the Community-Led Side Events organized by RISE (Research Institutes of Sweden),

and

hosted by

Join our session at 10:00 AM in the capacity building track:

"Public Investment for Open Source Infrastructure: The Sovereign Tech Agency Model in a Global Ecosystem"

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Reminder: We're currently hiring for several roles across the team. Join the Sovereign Tech Agency and help shape the digital infrastructure of the 21st century:

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#Hiring #OpenSource #PublicInterestTech #GetFediHired

Join us at #OSPOsForGood during #UNOpenSourceWeek, where Adriana Groh will speak on the opening panel “Open Source and Digital Sovereignty in a Connected World.”

The discussion will explore how open source can help governments and organizations build secure and adaptable digital infrastructure. Featuring Ruth Suehle, Louise McKeever, Jim Zemlin, Margaret Dawson, Arun Gupta, Sachiko Muto and Frank Karlitschek.

📅 Thu 25 June 2026, 10:45am EDT

Livestream: https://webtv.un.org/en/asset/k12/k12620x8tm 📍ECOSOC Chamber

This morning, the Sovereign Tech Agency hosted a breakfast reception at the German House in NYC on the theme of “Strengthening Digital Infrastructure: Sustaining Open Source for the Public Good,” at #UNOpenSourceWeek 2026.

Sovereign Tech Agency Managing Director Adriana Groh welcomed guests from across the #opensource ecosystem, bringing together representatives from communities, foundations, industry, government, and international organizations for a... 1/

The second #Maintainathon at #UNOpenSourceWeek brought together more than 100 participants across two tracks and 15 sessions: maintainers, governments, NGOs, researchers, OSPOs, and #opensource communities speaking openly with one another about what it actually takes to sustain critical digital infrastructure.

We are looking for a Program Manager to lead the #SovereignTechFellowship and #SovereignTechStandards network, two cohort-based programs that engage directly with open source maintainers and contributors.

You will drive the continued development of the cohorts and coordinate a range of mentoring opportunities. Your focus will be on aligning both programs with the Sovereign Tech Agency’s strategic objectives and ensuring that they create lasting impact across the open source ecosystem.

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We’re thrilled to announce the 2026 #SovereignTechFellowship cohort. Welcome to Jan Kowalleck, Philipp Sauberzweig, Pablo Neira Ayuso,

,

, Denis Cornehl, Jakub Beránek,

,

,

,

, Alexander Ziaee,

and

Meet the 14 maintainers, community managers, and technical writers building and sustaining the critical open source infrastructure we all rely on: https://www.sovereign.tech/news/meet-the-2026-sovereign-tech-fellows

The EU #TechSovereigntyPackage marks a decisive moment for Europe’s digital policy and for #OpenSource and the #DigitalCommons in particular.

The most important signal for the #SovereignTechAgency: the focus on maintenance and long-term sustainability. Open source already contributes to Europe’s #DigitalSovereignty; the components critical for public services, industry, and #DigitalInfrastructure must be reliably maintained, resourced, and governed over time. 1/

Wir suchen einen IT-Managerin, der*die unsere IT-Infrastruktur gestaltet und weiterentwickelt, damit sie sicher, zuverlässig und zukunftsfähig bleibt.

Du verantwortest die strategische Weiterentwicklung und die praktische Umsetzung in den Bereichen Infrastruktur, Tools, IT-Sicherheit und Informationsarchitektur. Gleichzeitig unterstützt du unser Team dabei, effizient mit unseren Systemen zu arbeiten.

https://www.sovereign.tech/de/stellenangebote/it-manager_in

#hiring #fedijobs #getfedihired #sovereignTechAgency

Final reminder: The deadline for applications to join the #SovereignTechStandards network is Tuesday, 19 May 2026, at 23:59 CEST.

Open standards shape the digital infrastructure we all rely on. But standards are only as good as the expertise behind them.

https://www.sovereign.tech/programs/standards

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#SovereignTechAgency #DigitalInfrastructure #OpenStandards #FOSS #Maintainers

We’re looking for an IT manager to take ownership of our internal tech environment, keeping it secure, reliable, and flexible.

In this role, you’ll be responsible for both strategic direction and hands-on implementation of infrastructure, tools, IT security, and information architecture while supporting a diverse team.

If you combine technical expertise, strategic thinking, and collaboration, we’d love to hear from you.

https://www.sovereign.tech/jobs/it-manager

#SovereignTechAgency #hiring

The #DigitalCommons #EDIC is building its team. Four roles are now open in Paris:

• Operations Manager
• Programme & Technical Manager
• Ecosystem and Partnerships Manager
• Office, Events & Communications Coordinator

→ https://digital-commons-edic.eu/careers/

Applications are open until 22 May 2026.

As part of the consortium, the Sovereign Tech Agency has been involved from the outset in shaping this European effort to strengthen open digital infrastructure.

NEWS 📣

The Sovereign Tech Agency today is launching the Sovereign Tech Standards network, a new program designed to bring open source maintainers directly into global standards development.

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We have received nearly 200 applications for the Sovereign Tech Fellowship. This response has been incredible.

Thank you to everyone who applied and took the time to carefully prepare and submit your documents. We appreciate the effort that went into each application.

We are currently reviewing all applications thoroughly to ensure a considered selection process. All applicants will be informed once decisions have been made.

Thank you for your patience!

The Sovereign Tech Agency is doing something special: we invest in and support the open digital infrastructure that modern economies and societies rely on.

We’re currently #hiring for several roles:

• HR Generalist
• Program Manager #SovereignTechFund
• Executive Assistant

If you’re interested in working at the intersection of technology, policy, and the #publicinterest with an international team, we’d love to hear from you.

Learn more & apply: https://www.sovereign.tech/jobs/#open-positions

#digitalsovereignty

Good #documentation is key for sustainable #opensource projects. It helps create clarity, empowers new contributors, and makes knowledge accessible.

As part of the #SovereignTechFellowship, we’re hosting a documentation sprint: up to six additional spots for technical writers to work short-term on critical open digital infrastructure in 2026. Apply by April 6, 2026. Find out more about the docs sprint:

https://www.sovereign.tech/news/fellowship-documentation-sprint-technical-writers

We're hiring a Program Manager for the Sovereign Tech Fund!

We’re looking for experienced project managers to support our work investing in critical #DigitalInfrastructure. You’ll evaluate technologies and work closely with the #OpenSource communities that build them, coordinating and managing projects around the world.

If you have a background in project management and an interest in this space, we'd love to hear from you. Applications are open until 19 April 2026.

https://www.sovereign.tech/jobs/program-manager

🎉 Applications for the Sovereign Tech Fellowship are officially open!

What’s new? For the first time, community managers, and technical writers can apply alongside open source maintainers until April 6, 2026, to become Fellows.

The #SovereignTechFellowship invests directly in the people behind the code, supporting key experts whose work underpins the health and stability of critical components in the #opensource ecosystem.

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The Sovereign Tech Agency is exploring how to better support open source maintainers and contributors who are actively working on technology standards relevant to their open source infrastructure projects.

Open standards are foundational to a healthy open source ecosystem. They enable interoperability, enhance digital sovereignty, foster competition and innovation and ensure that critical digital infrastructure remains accessible and serves the public interest.

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Today we’re hosting the DevRoom “Funding the FOSS Ecosystem” at #FOSDEM!

Together with

we’re bringing people together to explore how #opensource software can be sustained and maintained in the long term.

Here’s a peek from today’s sessions:

• Insights from the feasibility study for the EU Sovereign Tech Fund published by
  npub1mjtwgyd…v0pvyd

1/2 #fosdem26

Wir suchen einen erfahrenen Project Manager*in, um neue Projekte bei der Sovereign Tech Agency zu entwickeln und umzusetzen – von der Unterstützung des #DigitalCommons #EDIC bis zur Organisation von Events wie dem Maintain-a-thon bei den Vereinten Nationen und mehr!

Klingt nach dir? Dann bewirb dich hier: https://www.sovereign.tech/de/stellenangebote/projekt-manager_in

#hiring #getfedihired #fedijobs

We’re looking for an experienced project manager to help develop and deliver new projects at the #SovereignTechAgency, from supporting the #DigitalCommons #EDIC to organizing the Maintain-a-thon at the United Nations.

Sound like you? Apply here: https://www.sovereign.tech/jobs/project-manager #hiring #fedijobs #fedihired

“Open source has proven itself to be a winning strategy—not recently, but for decades.”

At today's #EUSummit on #DigitalSovereignty, Sovereign Tech Agency CEO Adriana Groh spoke on “The Power of Digital Commons: Building Europe's Shared Digital Future” alongside government officials and leaders from France, Germany, the Netherlands, & Austria.

Her message: Europe's digital future depends on strengthening the shared infrastructure we already rely on.

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Reminder: we’re looking for an experienced leader to join our team as the new Head of the Sovereign Tech Fund!

The #SovereignTechFund is our flagship program for investing in the open source infrastructure the world relies on. As we enter the next phase of growth and scaling, we’re searching for someone who can join us for this next chapter.

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We're #hiring a new Head of the Sovereign Tech Fund! 🚀

The Sovereign Tech Fund is the flagship program of the Sovereign Tech Agency. Since 2022, we've invested in critical open source infrastructure—from curl to FreeBSD to technologies like DNS that power the web—to strengthen digital sovereignty. Now we're in a pivotal phase of growth and scaling, and we're looking for an experienced leader for this key role.

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Help shape Europe’s Digital Commons — Open position for EDIC Director (F/M/X)

Last week, the European Commission announced the creation of the EDIC Digital Commons, a new initiative to support open, interoperable digital commons and strengthen digital sovereignty for 450 million Europeans.

The consortium is now hiring a Director to join the founding team and take the #EDICDigitalCommons into its next phase.

https://www.sovereign.tech/jobs/digital-commons-edic-director

1/2 #GetFediHired #FOSSjobs

Today

announced the creation of the #EDIC #DigitalCommons, a major milestone in a multi-year European effort the #SovereignTechAgency helped shape from the start.

“The confirmation of the Digital Commons EDIC marks a new chapter in Europe’s digital journey — one built on collaboration, transparency, and shared responsibility. Together, we’re working to ensure that Europe’s digital foundations remain open, resilient, and sovereign.” - Adriana Groh, Sovereign Tech Agency CEO. 1/3

Have you ever wondered what funding models exist, or what might be the best option for your project?

Then this is for you:

The Open Source Observatory is hosting an online workshop on 30 June 2025 dedicated to exploring funding strategies for open source projects.

, Head of the Sovereign Tech Fund, will speak about our approach to investing in open digital infrastructure in the public interest.

📅 30 June 2025 🕙 10:00–12:30 CEST

Register now: https://ec.europa.eu/eusurvey/runner/9651b76b-2fe3-e735-7bad-618926937ee7

@EC_DIGIT

At #OSPOsForGood today during #UNOpenSourceWeek, Adriana Groh made several insightful comments during the panel “The Role of Open Source in Digital Public Infrastructure”:

"At the #SovereignTechAgency, we focus on the software that developers need to develop software. We call that 'infrastructure,' which is a different understanding to what many hear when we talk about #DPI. Both things are extremely important and exist at the same time. We need to understand how they are connected..."

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What institutions do we need to ensure that technology advances equity, resilience, and the common good?

At Istanbul Innovation Days, our CEO Adriana Groh will be on stage discussing how technology can serve the public interest and drive institutional change.

In case you missed our announcement: The Sovereign Tech Fund is investing in

efforts to modernize its core technology! From late 2024 through 2026, this funding will help update OpenStreetMap’s codebase, improve documentation and testing, and make contributing easier.

Beyond that, the project will enhance its infrastructure—tackling map vandalism, refining geospatial data interaction, and strengthening OpenStreetMap’s role in logistics, urban planning, and disaster response.

Open source powers so much of the world, but the people behind it often go unseen. It was wonderful to meet so many maintainers and contributors in person at an event like

. These are real people doing critical work on that we all rely on, and they deserve all the recognition and appreciation. A huge thank you to everyone who gives their time and energy to FOSS, and a special thank you to these individuals (and their teams) who have worked with the Sovereign Tech Agency. 1/

Today at 17:30 for the @bits_und_baeume Policy Lab,

, Cecilia Rikap,

and Sovereign Tech Agency CEO Adriana Groh are discussing how to build resilient digital infrastructure — as the economy, society, and technology are inextricably linked. Our focus on the foundational software components and open ecosystem helps ensure that key technologies are not dominated by a few powerful players.

Watch the livestream: https://bits-und-baeume.org/stream/policy-lab-2025-03/

@Weizenbaum_Institut

Heute um 17:30 beim @bits_und_baeume Policy Lab diskutieren

, Cecilia Rikap,

& Sovereign Tech Agency CEO Adriana Groh über resiliente #digitaleInfrastrukturen, denn Wirtschaft, Gesellschaft & Technologie sind heute untrennbar verbunden. Unser Fokus auf Softwaregrundlagen & ein digitales Fundament ermöglicht, dass wichtige Technologien nicht von einigen wenigen mächtigen Akteuren dominiert werden.

📺 Livestream: https://bits-und-baeume.org/stream/policy-lab-2025-03/

@Weizenbaum_Institut

Jan Kowalleck, Sarah Hoffmann,

,

, Stefan Eissing, and Denis Ovsienko are the Sovereign Tech Fellowship's first cohort. Please join us in welcoming the six maintainers in the Sovereign Tech Agency’s one-year pilot program to support critical digital infrastructure and the people who work on it. Meet the fellows ➜ https://www.sovereign.tech/news/meet-the-sovereign-tech-fellows

What an incredible week in Brussels! The Sovereign Tech Agency team participated and co-organized multiple events around 

and we’re thrilled by the great conversations and engagement.

Reminder: Tech jobs with real impact are rare. At the Sovereign Tech Agency, we work to strengthen digital infrastructure – fostering security, innovation, and resilience to provide a stable foundation for participation and democracy.

You can still apply for our open positions! 📩

https://mastodon.social/@sovtechfund/113792992197932834

We’re looking for new people to join our team and strengthen digital infrastructure in the public interest!

If you know people who might be interested, please share these jobs with them!

We are currently accepting applications for the following positions:

We’re looking for new people to join our team and strengthen digital infrastructure in the public interest!

If you know people who might be interested, please share these jobs with them!

We are currently accepting applications for the following positions:

Der Digitalausschuss des Bundestages befasst sich heute in einer öffentlichen Anhörung mit dem Thema Open Source. Adriana ist als Sachverständige eingeladen um die Wichtigkeit von digitaler Daseinsvorsorge und digitaler Souveränität zu beleuchten 💡

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The Sovereign Tech Agency is the new home for the Sovereign Tech Fund, all our programs, and our growing team as well.

We’d like to introduce the people behind the Sovereign Tech Agency 🤗

https://www.sovereign.tech/news/meet-the-sovereign-tech-agency

Hello, World! We’re now the Sovereign Tech Agency 🎉

It’s been two years since the Sovereign Tech Fund began investing in open technologies in the public interest, and our mission has grown to be more than the “fund” in our name. The new Sovereign Tech Agency anchors digital infrastructure on the agenda and is a home for the Sovereign Tech Fund and our other programs that strengthen the open source ecosystem.

Read more: https://www.sovereign.tech/news/stf-part-of-new-sovereign-tech-agency

Today is the last day to apply for the fellowship for maintainers, our new program that will pay #FOSS maintainers for a year to work on the important work of critical software infrastructure.

For the pilot year, we're looking for up to 5 fellows, with freelance contract and employment options. Submit your application by the end of the day: Sunday, 20 Oct 2024!

Boosts appreciated!

Details: https://www.sovereigntechfund.de/news/apply-to-the-fellowship-for-maintainers #GetFediHired

Would you work for free? 🤯

For 33% of the respondents to our open source maintainer survey, this is reality: they are not paid or not paid enough to make a living.

With the new Fellowship program, we are investing directly in the people behind the code by paying maintainers of important open source components for their work. Applications are accepted until October 20th. Find more insights about the maintainer survey on our website.

Sovereign Tech Fund’s technologist Lorenzo Sciandra

is attending #OGGCamp this weekend in Manchester! OggCamp is an unconference celebrating Free Culture, Open Source Software, hardware hacking, and digital rights, with a focus on inclusivity.

Find him around over the weekend to chat about the challenges facing open source maintainers and how we can strengthen digital infrastructure in the public interest. And don’t forget to grab some free STF stickers!

In the spring, we conducted a survey asking the community a wide range of questions to help shape a fellowship for open source maintainers. This new 12-month program supports the people who work on critical digital infrastructure. Here are some of the insights we uncovered.

https://www.sovereigntechfund.de/news/what-open-source-maintainers-shared-with-us

Off to a great start: the launch of the report “Bug Bounties and FOSS: Opportunities, Risks, and a Path Forward” starting with a welcome from STF co-founders Adriana Groh and

, introduction from

, bug resilience program overview by Paul Sharratt, and comments on the political and public sector needs from Bundestag member

We're on our way to Open Source Summit Europe this week! Look for

,

, Paul Sharratt,

,

, and

in Vienna. Don't miss our talks and sessions:

✴️ Tue. 17 Sep at 11:55am: How Stakeholders Across Government, Enterprise, & Civil Society can Accelerate Open Source for Good! (Fiona) https://sched.co/1izL3

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#OSSEU #OSSEU2024 #OSSummit

Last month, we introduced the fellowship for maintainers to address a critical challenge: supporting the dedicated individuals who keep the open source ecosystem functioning that forms our digital infrastructure.

Today we’re happy to share the full details and start accepting applications. We’re looking for up to five maintainers for the inaugural fellowship!

Apply by 20 October 2024 to join the pilot of the fellowship for maintainers: https://www.sovereigntechfund.de/news/apply-to-the-fellowship-for-maintainers

We're thrilled to share details about our fellowship pilot program. Launching in Q4 2024, this new initiative aims to address a critical challenge in the open source ecosystem: supporting the dedicated individuals who keep our digital infrastructure running.

https://www.sovereigntechfund.de/news/introducing-the-fellowship-for-maintainers

On 17 June 2024, you'll be able to apply for new financing from STF. We’re looking forward to proposals from critical and foundational open source technologies, whose work strengthens the #FOSS ecosystem. Thanks to all maintainers and contributors for your #opensource engagement! https://www.sovereigntechfund.de/programs#general-investments