An open platform promoting 
collaboration and innovation in the 
growing realm of digital systems, 
encompassing open source software, open data, open science, open 
modelling, and open hardware 
through digital designs

Facilitates technological progression by reducing entry barriers, streamlining product development, and stimulating broad-based innovation, locally and globally.

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Eliminates vendor lock-in, allowing for greater procurement agility and auditability, while enabling collaboration with incumbent global tech companies.

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Supports shared technology investment, mitigates risk, and spurs product differentiation to drive solutions to humanity’s hardest problems.

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Robust ties in academia, industry, governments, and open source communities, plays a key role in fostering stronger interactions between university research and industry application. 

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Community Interest Companies (CICs):

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UK-based non-profit businesses aimed at benefiting the community rather than just private shareholders.

Regulated and run for public good, CICs use their profits and assets to achieve community-focused objectives.

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CICs can establish for-profit entities with private 

shareholders where major external capital is required 

to leverage intellectual property.

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A key feature of a CIC is the ‘asset lock’, ensuring the 

company’s assets and profits are used for the community’s benefit, enabling valuable intellectual property to be 

rooted to the UK

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Digital Commons integrates with CICs

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Aligning their objectives of community benefit and 

open innovation.

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Digital Commons projects hosted by CICs, facilitating 

a legal and organizational framework that supports the open, collaborative ethos.