The Bottom Line: Bavaria is testing alternative software solutions to make its administrative structures less dependent on Microsoft by March 2027, but so far plans only a pilot project in one ministry.
Bavaria’s Digital Ministry is launching a test phase for European and open-source solutions to reduce state administration’s dependence on Microsoft. The background is a resolution by the Conference of Minister-Presidents from December 2023 to provide digitally sovereign alternatives by March 2027.
The Bavarian Digital Ministry under Fabian Mehring (Free Voters) has initiated a test phase for alternative software solutions. Some ministry employees will test various software offerings in their daily work over the coming months – including German and Bavarian proprietary developments as well as European solutions and open-source software. The experiences are intended to serve as a foundation for designing a digitally sovereign workplace.
For a Chief Digital Officer, this initiative is relevant because it aims to reduce vendor dependency. To date, Bavaria pays substantial sums for Microsoft products: according to a Green Party inquiry, spending has risen from approximately 30 million euros in 2020 to around 49 million euros. The focus is on risk mitigation: proprietary solutions from individual US corporations give them potential control over technologies and access – a security and dependency risk that Mehring views as a threat to resilient infrastructure.
The test procedure follows a resolution by the Conference of Minister-Presidents from December 2023 to make digitally sovereign alternatives to proprietary workplace software available by no later than 31 March 2027. The goal is to make authorities more independent of overseas companies and thereby increase the controllability of digital infrastructure.
The SPD and Greens welcome the change in course but criticize its limited scope. SPD representative Florian von Brunn argues that a single pilot project in one ministry is insufficient; a comprehensive strategy for the entire state government is required. Green politician Benjamin Adjei calls for closer cooperation with the federal government and the state of Schleswig-Holstein, where digital sovereignty has already been implemented, to avoid costly duplicate structures.
The previous Microsoft deal, which was intended to consolidate individual contracts, was not implemented following public pressure. For Chief Digital Officers and governance officials, this shift signals stronger focus on technological independence and risk control, but remains expandable due to limited scalability and lack of overarching strategy.
Source: www.it-daily.net · Published 3 June 2026
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