Nextclouda developer of a Open Source alternative to the tools of large technological ones such as Google or Microsoftit is not limited only to launching tools to the market so that its users, both professionals and companies, can count on everything necessary to create a private cloud, implement a content creation platform or communicate through videoconferences.
It is also at the forefront of a growing movement in Europe that It seeks that both citizens and government companies and institutions have true technological sovereigntythat leads them not to depend on multinational services. Mainly, of those that are headded in in the United States.
This explains that during his NewCloud Summit 2025 event, held on June 5 in Munich (Germany), among the audience that went to the presentation of the latest version of NextCloud Talk, and among the speakers and participants of different round tables and debates there would not only be professionals, technology experts and representatives of Usear company of Nextcloud. They also gathered to deal with the NGOs, government representatives and economists, with digital sovereignty as a conduct thread and main theme of the event.
At the head of the company, if CEO, Frank Karlischekstrongly bet on a sovereign Europe in the technological, with a digital infrastructure based on open software. Karlitschek, creator of NextCloud, is one of the most critical voices with the “Big Tech”, even accusing Google of blocking some of the functions of its platform on Android devices. And he is convinced that we are in one of the best moments to achieve, once and for all, digital sovereignty.
(McPro) How did Nextcloud come and how has it evolved since its inception?
(Frank Karlitschek): I have been very involved in the development of open source since the 1990s and has always worried that all our communication and our data were controlled by a few companies. When I founded NextCloud nine years ago, I wanted to return control over their data. In the end, he was right. If we look at how great technological ones dominate today, the situation is terrible and causes huge dependence.
Today, NextCloud is the collaboration software focused on the most popular privacy in the world, with millions of users. Users can edit and share documents, chat, celebrate videoconferences and manage emails, contacts and calendars through simple web and mobile applications. I am also very proud of the NextCloud community, which has thousands of people around the world who contribute to software.
(MCPRO) To what extent has the objective of offering its clients an option of digital sovereignty in Europe influenced?
(Frank Karlitschek): We see more and more organizations that have been using American software and look for European solutions. The key is to facilitate migration from American cloud platforms. That is why we have focused on improving usability and integration capabilities in the latest Nextcloud updates.
I think we are up to the height of US suppliers and, in some areas, even more advanced. For example, NextCloud introduced the first AI agent of all collaboration platforms.
(MCPRO) How have the recent geopolitical changes influenced the needs and demands of its customers? Have you noticed a remarkable increase in customers as a result?
(Frank Karlitschek): There is a great demand for European solutions, since organizations seek to build a more resistant computer infrastructure. For example, we have tripled demand since the beginning of the year. In addition, in Spain we had never received as many consultations as this year. Companies from all countries recognize the need to find a sovereign option.
Our clients usually tell us that they look for European open source solutions for three main reasons: lAt first it is the dependence of a supplier, which makes them dependent on a single company that can then increase their prices and hinder migration. Microsoft, for example, increased its prices up to 40 % earlier this year. If your clients had a fair option to migrate, this would not be possible.
The second risk that our clients mention is business espionage. Companies fear that foreign espionage agencies dedicate themselves to industrial espionage. From Snowden’s revelations, we know that this occurs, and it is easier when the data is stored in an American cloud, since the authorities can access them even if the data center is in Europe.
The third risk is that computer solutions become a political negotiation tool. What would happen if Donald Trump closed access to US clouds or even stopped providing updates to European customers? Let’s think about the recent NATO summit, in which Trump also threatened Spain.
(MCPRO) How can European technology companies contribute to realizing European digital sovereignty? What about the institutions and governments of the region?
(Frank Karlitschek): The idea that US suppliers are much more innovative is nothing more than a myth. Many applications of European technology companies are very competitive. Large technological ones are often limited to buying other companies or copying their products.
I don’t think Europe lacks technology or innovation. The real challenge is the lack of political will to acquire European solutions. We must change that. The great US suppliers have also grown because they have been awarded important public contracts.
Interestingly, people would support politicians to go to European suppliers. A survey conducted by two NGOs revealed that, in Spain, for example, more than double people claimed that great technological ones had a negative impact on European democracy than those who claimed that they had a positive impact.
(MCPRO) What do you think is needed to convince European governments and institutions to stop depending on both US technology companies, as they have already made cities such as Lyon (France), Copenhagen or Aarhus (Denmark), or the Schleswig-Holstein region in Germany?
(Frank Karlitschek): It’s about raising awareness. Some innovative pioneers are Lyon, Copenhague and Schleswig-Holstein. In the Netherlands, for example, a large number of public agencies are looking to migrate from Microsoft to open source solutions.
In Spain, some public agencies also use NextCloud, such as the Canary Islands government, Educamadrid and the Xunta de Galicia. We must talk about these cases. This is how we can make known the advantages of open source and convince those who still doubt.
(MCPRO) What role can NextCloud play in a less dependent scenario of the large US technology companies? And open source software?
(Frank Karlitschek): Open source solutions such as NextCloud are sovereign by default. Therefore, a sovereign Europe must be based on open source. Users can choose where to accommodate them: on their own servers, in a private cloud or with a trust accommodation provider like Arsys.
This means that only users can decide who to grant access to their data. Anyone can work with the source code and all data are interoperable, so they can easily be transferred to other suppliers. As a European company, NextCloud is not subject to the Cloud Act Law of the USA. UU. It is not possible to comply with the regulations.
(MCPRO) Where can we start in Europe to reduce the technological dependence of the United States?
(Frank Karlitschek): I encourage everyone to try European solutions, although at first they may seem a bit unknown. This is how users can check the performance and innovation of European software.
Of course, migration from Microsoft is not easy, since it blocks its users whenever it can. But it is a manageable process. You have to go step by step. Start by a module of your computer infrastructure, such as file synchronization. Once it works, go to the emails, calendars and contacts, and finally to Office and videoconferences.
What factors can accelerate European digital sovereignty in the short and medium term? We must encourage politicians to acquire European and open source solutions. Of course, it is a long -term effort. Fortunately, I see some advances, since many cities and countries are including it in their agendas.
At European level, there are also groups, such as Eurostack, which have the support of many large European companies. I have been fighting for sovereignty more than a decade and I think we’ve never been as close to getting it as today.
(MCPRO) What are your plans for the future of NextCloud?
(Frank Karlitschek): In the future, NextCloud should be the first option that an organization is raised when choosing a collaboration tool. To achieve this, we must continue to improve the ease of use and the performance of the platform, and maintain our commitment to the continuous development of new functions.
