Schleswig-Holstein transitions 80% of workstations to LibreOffice

The German state of Schleswig-Holstein has achieved a significant milestone in digital sovereignty by transitioning nearly 80 percent of its administrative workstations to LibreOffice. This shift to open-source software has resulted in license cost savings exceeding 15 million euros, despite a one-time investment of nine million euros in 2026.

Other German regions show varying levels of adoption. While the city of Gießen follows an “Open Source by Default” strategy and avoids the Microsoft cloud, the state of Hesse continues to rely heavily on Microsoft Office products, pursuing a multi-cloud approach instead. In Korbach, local officials have expressed concerns regarding dependencies on proprietary formats for handling confidential information.

Broadening the scope to a European level, the 2026 annual report from the Expert Commission for Research and Innovation (EFI) emphasizes that digital sovereignty requires more than just regulation. It necessitates the development of robust technology ecosystems, interoperable solutions, and active industrial policies to reduce dependence on global technology corporations and foster strategic autonomy.