OpenDesk experiences surge in demand as German providers form joint venture

The open-source office and collaboration suite OpenDesk, developed by Germany’s Center for Digital Sovereignty (ZenDiS), is experiencing a significant surge in demand. Positioned as a sovereign alternative to Microsoft 365, the platform aims to reduce dependence on US-based technology corporations and mitigate risks regarding data security and control over critical infrastructure.

To manage this growth and expand beyond the public sector, six open-source providers—Collabora Productivity, Element, Nordeck, Open-Xchange, Univention, and XWiki—have formed a joint venture called Open Productivity Software GmbH. This new entity intends to establish a partner network to support companies and operators of critical infrastructure with implementation, integration, and operation of the suite.

The strategic importance of OpenDesk was highlighted by the International Criminal Court in The Hague, which opted for the platform in 2025 to maintain digital sovereignty amidst concerns regarding US sanctions. With over 200,000 licenses already sold, the platform integrates essential tools such as word processing, spreadsheets, email, and cloud storage.