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Free and open-source software is becoming the decisive source of non-competitive software in the automotive industry. The new contact point Automotive Software Collaboration BW - The FOSS-LÄND Community of e-mobil BW supports companies in BW with low-threshold support services to encourage their medium- to long-term participation in OSS collaborations. At the same time, it strengthens networking among stakeholder, with the aim of enhancing the long-term competitiveness of the BW automotive cluster.
Value creation in the automotive industry is increasingly shifting towards software. The transition to software-defined vehicles presents the industry with major challenges arising from fundamental requirements: Vehicle software must be developed much faster, implemented on a large scale and managed efficiently. Free and open-source software development (FOSS) enables automotive manufacturers and suppliers to work together on software solutions and benefit from the innovations of a broad developer community. The use of open source software can shorten development times, reduce costs, and improve software quality. In addition, the transparency of open-source projects promotes trust and security, as the source code can be reviewed and improved by anyone. In a rapidly changing industry that increasingly relies on digitalization and networking, open-source software offers a flexible and future-proof basis for keeping development costs manageable and creating standardized solutions.
Together with partners from research and industry, e-mobil BW is working to establish a community under the title ‘The FOSS-LÄND Community’. Companies in Baden-Württemberg are being supported in familiarizing themselves with the advantages of joint software development and implementing processes and standards for efficient and legally compliant use under guidance, thus making them an integral part of their company.
The idea for this initiative originated within the framework of the sprint mission “Open Source Software Development in the Automotive Industry – Securing Location Advantages through Collaboration” of the Baden-Württemberg Automotive Strategy Dialogue (SDA BW). On May 17, 2024, the Ministry of Transport Baden-Württemberg and the Ministry of Economic Affairs, Labour and Tourism Baden-Württemberg, together with Porsche AG, ETAS GmbH, Robert Bosch GmbH, Mercedes-Benz AG and e-mobil BW, announced new activities to support collaborative software development in the automotive industry.
Minister of Transport Winfried Hermann
The automotive industry is already actively applying the approach of collaborative software development. In the long term this form of cooperation not only benefits all participating companies, but also has the potential to strengthen Baden-Württemberg as an automotive hub and reinforce its leading role in Germany and Europe.
In particular, companies that are still at an early stage with open source software are specifically targeted through the offerings of the central contact and coordination office. Workshops and introductory information serve as essential building blocks for initial orientation. Depending on their needs, companies can also access additional support services, such as consulting vouchers and guidance on compliance or security-related topics.
Driven by the shared vision of harnessing the potential of FOSS in the automotive sector and effectively addressing the associated risks, the community aims to provide targeted and lasting support to all involved stakeholders through a portfolio of dedicated measures. By offering knowledge and best practices, the initiative especially empowers companies that are still at an early stage in their engagement with open source software.
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