Bosch launches their Open Source Program Office
Bosch is striving to be a good citizen of the open source community and has been an active member of major foundations for several years. The philosophy of open source is deeply ingrained in Bosch’s values, culture, and innovation. Notably, the institutionalization of the Open Source Program Office (OSPO) at the beginning of this year signifies a formal acknowledgment of said corporate value. The OSPO consolidates various functions related to InnerSource and open source software that were previously dispersed across the organization, including governance, open source management services, business consulting and external affairs. Previously, these functions were housed in the cross-enterprise Center of Competence Open Source and various departments of Bosch Digital, but only loosely coordinated.
The OSPO triangle
In the governance function, technical and legal experts within the OSPO establish corporate guidelines to guide our activities. Collaborating with users, the OSPO develops standardized corporate practices for open source management, aimed at enhancing effectiveness and efficiency. The business consultants within the OSPO play a pivotal role in assisting the organization in determining the most suitable strategies for the divisional businesses and identifying applicable business models. Moreover, fostering and encouraging the conscious use of open source is an important goal. Internally, the OSPO provides a comprehensive suite of tools and services to facilitate open source management in a streamlined, transparent, and automated manner. The goal of the OSPO is to efficiently generate reusable software meta-information and artifacts. The OSPO oversees the coordination of various groups interacting with communities and provides corporate materials that represent the Bosch open source program.
The open source manifesto prioritizes fostering and sustaining open source communities as its foremost principle. This website serves as the official platform of the OSPO to engage with the open source community, thus directly aligning with this principle. Furthermore, the portal is designed to offer regular updates on Bosch's initiatives within the open source domain, ensuring transparency and fostering collaboration with the following features:
• Principles of the Bosch open source program
• Interesting stories about Bosch open source activities
• Links to featured open source projects
• …more to come…
Introducing the OSPO core team
The OSPO Team was formally established on January 1, 2024, marking a significant milestone in Bosch's commitment to open source endeavors. Comprising ten core team members, the OSPO is bolstered by the collaborative efforts of approximately 50 open source officers and partners across various Bosch divisions.
The OSPO mission
We are the catalyst for open source and InnerSource at Bosch.
We endorse open source and InnerSource principles in our everyday work.
We lower the barriers and reduce the organizational overhead for practitioners.
We support and foster growth of our community of practitioners within Bosch and support them in promoting our strategic commitment externally.
We enable individuals, projects, and organizations to master open source and InnerSource and leverage its full potential by providing guidance, tools, services, and a legal framework.
Jan Nathem, Head Center of Excellence Open Source and InnerSource
Jan Nathem is a computer scientist with a passion for innovation and collaboration, which he believes to be the key to tackling future challenges. With over a decade of experience in various capacities within open source compliance and enablement, Jan is a seasoned expert in navigating the complexities of open source projects. Since January, Jan has taken the lead of the Open Source Program Office, seamlessly merging the worlds of open source and InnerSource. He strives to enable individuals, projects and organizations to master open source and InnerSource to leverage their full potential. His mission? To streamline the developer experience, empower contributors, and provide invaluable strategic insights to management on all matters related to open source. Together with his team Jan is not just leading the charge; he's transforming the landscape of software development one strategic decision at a time!
