The future of project management is open source
The time of closed, proprietary software is coming to an end. The future belongs to open source solutions. More and more organizations, especially in the public sector, are realizing the benefits and making the switch. By choosing open source software for their project management, governments not only significantly reduce costs but also foster innovation, increase transparency, and ensure digital sovereignty.
Imagine waking up to find your entire project infrastructure locked away just because a foreign government changed its policies. Sounds extreme? Yet, this is the risk of relying solely on proprietary software controlled by big tech monopolies from the USA. The public sector remains dependent on decisions made abroad, including policies from erratic leaders that could suddenly limit access to critical tools.
At the same time, proprietary software is expensive and restrictive. High costs and vendor lock-in force organizations into long-term contracts. Open source project management isn’t just an alternative — it is essential for an innovative and independent Europe.
High prices limit collaboration
Many project management tools charge per user, making collaboration costly. Imagine paying for every person who receives an email? Ridiculous, right? Yet, proprietary software forces organizations to exclude key stakeholders or pay excessive fees just so people can participate. This pricing model drives teams to manage projects through inefficient email threads or static MS Office documents.
At OpenProject, we do things differently. Our Community Edition is completely for free, so organizations can get started with open source project management easily without financial barriers. For mission-critical projects, our Unlimited Plans provide enterprise-level features and professional support. This ensures organizations have a secure, high-performance system with expert guidance and support. Public institutions can finally focus on their projects without worrying about restrictive pricing models.
PM²: an open and accessible framework
I recently learned that a key OpenProject customer — a federal state in northern Germany — chose PM² as its project management framework because OpenProject supports it. This shows how open methodologies, combined with the right tools, deliver scalable solutions for public administration.
Working with the creators of PM² has been truly inspiring. Their commitment to open and accessible project management aligns perfectly with our mission. Unlike commercial methodologies, PM² evolves based on real-world needs rather than profit motives. Seeing institutions like the BVA customize PM² into PMflex proves that open collaboration leads to better solutions.
Unlike proprietary frameworks such as PRINCE2, PMP, or IPMA, which require expensive certifications and strict licensing, PM² is free. Public organizations can download, study, and adapt it to fit their needs, something commercial methodologies don’t allow. PRINCE2 and PMP do not even provide free access to their core materials, let alone the ability to customize them.
At OpenProject, we support this transition. Open source solutions, built on open standards, give public institutions full control over their software, free them from high fees, and ensure long-term independence. By integrating with PM², OpenProject provides a flexible, future-proof alternative to proprietary tools.
Open source project management is the future
Why should European taxpayers fund software they cannot even modify nor rely on? Why continue spending billions on proprietary software licenses when open solutions offer more flexibility at lower costs?
The era of proprietary project management software and methodologies is coming to an end. The shift to open source project management is inevitable. More institutions are recognizing the benefits and making the switch. Governments and public organizations must act now. Many governments, municipalities, cities, and other public institutions already successfully collaborate with OpenProject — not only to save money, but to drive innovation, transparency, and digital sovereignty.
This change is already happening, and digital sovereignty is now firmly on the political agenda. The collaboration between ZenDiS in Germany, Dinum in France, and openDesk demonstrates how European institutions are actively working together to build independent digital infrastructure and reduce reliance on foreign providers. It’s time to rethink project management, break free from restrictive systems, and embrace open collaboration.
