This study was commissioned by the European Commission’s DG CONNECT to analyse
the economic impact of Open Source Software and Hardware on the European economy.
It provides a comprehensive picture of the current commercial uses, costs and benefits of
Open Source Software (OSS), and global policy efforts to utilise and magnify the benefits
of using OSS. On the basis of this information, the study assesses the potential for the
European Union (EU) to achieve its policy goals (including economic growth, greater
competitiveness, innovation, and job creation) through the use, promotion and support of
OSS and of Open Source Hardware (OSH).
The study involved the review of relevant literature, the performance of several case studies
and statistical analyses, and a detailed survey among a representative sample of
companies and developers. A strong consistency was observed between the data provided
by the various sources consulted, and the data collected specifically for the study.

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