OpenUK reveals manifesto to bolster UK's open technology sector

OpenUK has unveiled its Open Manifesto, containing three key proposals for the new UK government aimed at bolstering the open technology sector. The report, titled "State of Open: The UK in 2024, Phase 2: The Open Manifesto," sets out a strategic vision intended to strengthen the country's digital economy through skill development, public sector integration, and AI transparency.

The first proposal outlined in the manifesto focuses on skills development across the UK. OpenUK's research reveals that 3.6 million GitHub account holders reside in the UK, the highest per capita globally. Despite this strength, there are concerns about maintaining this position. The manifesto suggests that the government should prioritise building open source skills to bridge the skills gap, create employment opportunities in rural areas, and prevent labour migration. Ensuring that the UK maintains its digital economy leadership, especially against fast-growing countries like France, is a primary concern.

The second proposal addresses the public sector's engagement with open source technology. This includes comments from notable figures such as journalist Will Hutton and Mike Bracken, founder of Public Digital and former UK Government Digital Director. Hutton argued, "Opening up tech thus enables innovation, increases competition and many new market entrants." He emphasised the need for the government to support open-source-first policies, enhancing interoperability and competition while maximising the value of public investments in technology.

Bracken highlighted the necessity of structured curation of open source within the public sector, advocating for an evolved understanding of funding practices. He noted, "Our pace of adoption has not matched our pace of understanding." Bracken stated that clear policy intentions and opportunities for team collaborations are crucial for rapid implementation. He stressed the importance of establishing a central standards body to drive open governance and manage public sector adoption effectively.

The final aspect of the manifesto focuses on AI openness. The report warns against the abuse of the 'open' terminology to exploit exemptions in upcoming regulations and stresses the importance of transparency in AI algorithms and processes. Andreas Liesenfeld, Assistant Professor at the University of Radboud, and Neil Lawrence, DeepMind Professor of Machine Learning, will discuss the implications during a keynote and panel discussion. The manifesto highlights that the UK's position on AI data use remains unresolved, as noted by Sonia Cooper from Microsoft and Professor Elena Simperl from King's College London. They cite the lack of political momentum as a hindrance to fully leveraging AI's potential.

Amanda Brock, CEO of OpenUK, summed up the spirit of the manifesto by stating, "Last year, I talked about the UK’s open source business folk and contributors as a submarine powering our digital economy. That submarine is beginning to surface, and the new Government heralds an opportunity for the UK’s policymakers to leverage the UK’s open source and open data skills to enable them to power the future of the UK’s tech industries." Brock conveyed that the manifesto aims to develop skills, exploit the late-mover advantage in the public sector, and underline the necessity of an open foundation for AI in the UK.

The Open Manifesto envisions a future where robust skill development, strategic public sector engagement, and transparent AI practices can significantly propel the UK's digital landscape. By taking these steps, the UK aims to not only enhance its existing technological strengths but also foster new growth and innovation opportunities in the open technology sector.