Official website – Federal Republic of Germany

Co-creating Digital Sovereignty

Digital sovereignty means having the power to act

Our state is highly dependent on a few large tech companies, resulting in a serious loss of control over state IT. With a comprehensive sovereignty package consisting of a platform, products and consulting, the Center for Digital Sovereignty in Public Administration (ZenDiS) supports federal, state and local authorities in freeing themselves from critical dependencies and securing their ability to act.

Our offerings

Platform

Confidently shaping digitalisation

With our openCode platform and the services based on it, we promote cross-departmental and cross-level collaboration, strengthen the reuse of open source solutions, and provide public administrations with the basis for a secure and sovereign software supply chain.

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Products

Breaking critical dependencies

Digital sovereignty requires interchangeability. Only those who can choose can decide freely. And only those who are in control are truly sovereign. ZenDiS offers public administrations easy access to professional, needs-based and sovereign software solutions.

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Sovereignty check & advice

Taking a strategic approach to digital sovereignty

How can we become sovereign? There is a great need for advice in public administration. ZenDiS provides support for questions relating to digital sovereignty and open source and, with its sovereignty check, offers an important analysis tool for identifying critical dependencies and deriving suitable exit and migration strategies.

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From the newsroom

Currently only available in German.

13. October 2026 news

openDesk Partner Programme: First ‘Approved’ partners announced

Three weeks after the launch of the openDesk partner programme, the first Approved System Integrators and Approved Sovereign Service Providers have been accredited. Please note, that this press release is only aviable in german right now.

12. October 2026 news

openDesk is now available nationwide as a SaaS solution via govdigital

Implementing the Federal and State Modernisation Agenda: Legally compliant procurement of sovereign workplaces for the federal states and local authorities via the ‘Deutschland Digital’ marketplace Please note, that this press release is only aviable in german right now.

10. October 2026 paper

Criteria for Digital Sovereignty: Version 1.0

In order to strengthen the digital sovereignty of public administration in a targeted manner, sovereignty must be measurable against clear criteria. ZenDiS has therefore proposed a set of criteria and further developed it through a public consultation. The result is a practical framework that assesses both the organisational sovereignty of an administration and that of its business-critical IT solutions. (Currently only available in German)

9. October 2026 meldung

Agent-based AI and air-gapped operation: ZenDiS showcases proof-of-concepts for new openDesk scenarios at SCCON 2026

The integration of agent-based AI and demonstrating that openDesk can run in ‘air-gapped’ environments are on the roadmap. Please note, that this press release is only aviable in german right now.

29. September 2026 meldung

Bundesdruckerei Group and ZenDiS launch partnership for a digitally sovereign public administration

The Bundesdruckerei Group and ZenDiS have signed a letter of intent regarding strategic cooperation. Please note, that this press release is only aviable in german right now.

23. September 2026 meldung

openDesk partner programme for cloud providers and IT service providers launches

ZenDiS is responding to the high demand for the outstanding office and collaboration suite openDesk and is opening up new channels of supply. Please note, that this press release is only aviable in german right now.

8. September 2026 meldung

ZenDiS at the Smart Country Convention: Strengthening digital sovereignty within the ecosystem

Under the slogan #WirMachenSouverän, ZenDiS will be highlighting successful collaborations in the field of digital sovereignty at this year’s Smart Country Convention (13–15 October 2026 in Berlin). Please note, that this press release is only aviable in german right now.

9. April 2026 meldung

BMDS strengthens ZenDiS and brings tech expertise to the management board

From now, Leonhard Kugler will manage the business together with Pamela Krosta-Hartl.

7. April 2026 news

openDesk sales partner program: Simplified access for private IT service providers

The openDesk sales partner program will be further specified: A new element will be distributors for private IT service providers.

13. October 2026 news

openDesk Partner Programme: First ‘Approved’ partners announced

Three weeks after the launch of the openDesk partner programme, the first Approved System Integrators and Approved Sovereign Service Providers have been accredited. Please note, that this press release is only aviable in german right now.

12. October 2026 news

openDesk is now available nationwide as a SaaS solution via govdigital

Implementing the Federal and State Modernisation Agenda: Legally compliant procurement of sovereign workplaces for the federal states and local authorities via the ‘Deutschland Digital’ marketplace Please note, that this press release is only aviable in german right now.

10. October 2026 paper

Criteria for Digital Sovereignty: Version 1.0

In order to strengthen the digital sovereignty of public administration in a targeted manner, sovereignty must be measurable against clear criteria. ZenDiS has therefore proposed a set of criteria and further developed it through a public consultation. The result is a practical framework that assesses both the organisational sovereignty of an administration and that of its business-critical IT solutions. (Currently only available in German)

Technological self-determination is the foundation of a digitally sovereign state. Against the backdrop of the current geopolitical situation, promoting open-source software and strengthening digital sovereignty is more important than ever. ZenDiS ensures that the public sector remains capable of acting in this area.

It is crucial that digital tools and solutions are available quickly and from the outset in high quality and maturity. One thing is clear: for secure digitalization, we need digital sovereignty, and this requires many hands to work together. ZenDiS is a strong partner in this endeavor and delivers ready-to-use, productive solutions that can strengthen our sovereignty!

Digital sovereignty is an essential prerequisite for the work of public IT service providers. With ZenDiS, we have a partner at our side who helps us to translate digital sovereignty into concrete projects and put it into practice.

Open source is the working model for sustainable, trustworthy, and efficient public administration. Implementing this model requires exchange, expertise, cooperation, and concrete offerings. ZenDiS now offers all of this in one place.

A modern community needs a digitally sovereign administration. Open source software gives the public sector the necessary design and control capabilities, greater flexibility, and speed. To this end, the Center for Digital Sovereignty, as coordinator and trusted advisor, initiates concrete development projects and connects stakeholders at all levels.

With its clear commitment to open source, ZenDiS is making an important contribution to reducing critical dependencies in administration. Low-threshold, standardized offerings make it easy for actors at all federal levels to become more technologically independent and resilient in the long term.