The Government is encouraging Open Source software as part of its e-Innovations initiative, which aims to increase safe use of the software by local authorities. This is against the background of an earlier UK Government report endorsing wider use of Open Source in the public sector. The European Commission (EC) has consistently encouraged the use of Open Source software within public administrations. Pan-European projects have been backed by the EC and industry/support contribution. The Open Source Academy is directly linked into these.

Open Source is complimentary to government guidelines and initiatives on Open Source and helps fulfil priority goals for systems to work alongside others without creating additional effort from the user. This is achieved through open standards with no license costs. The life of computer hardware is also extended and therefore reduces landfill.