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The Linux Foundation Announces the Launch of NeoNephos to Advance Digital Autonomy in Europe

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New Initiative Will Foster Collaboration and Innovation Around Open Cloud Infrastructure and Cloud-Native Technologies.

BRUSSELS, March 31, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Linux Foundation Europe, the nonprofit organization enabling mass innovation through open source in Europe and around the world, today announced the official launch of the NeoNephos Foundation. This new initiative is dedicated to fostering collaboration and innovation around open cloud infrastructure, digital sovereignty, and next-generation cloud-native technologies in Europe.

New Initiative Will Foster Collaboration and Innovation Around Open Cloud Infrastructure and Cloud-Native Technologies.

NeoNephos, one of the first concrete open source outcomes of the IPCEI-CIS EU investment, emerges as a response to the growing demand for secure, scalable, and transparent cloud solutions that support European goals of digital sovereignty. By bringing together leading organizations, technology providers, and academic institutions, the foundation will serve as a hub for developing and promoting open source solutions that empower European enterprises and public sector entities.

“Linux Foundation Europe is proud to support the launch of NeoNephos, which represents a significant step forward in supporting Europe’s cloud sovereignty goals through open source,” said Gabriele Columbro, General Manager of Linux Foundation Europe. “By fostering an openly governed collaborative ecosystem, we can accelerate innovation by building and integrating with open source cloud native building blocks like Kubernetes, Sylva, and LF Networking projects. Together, we can leverage projects already hosted under the Linux Foundation global ecosystem, while ensuring alignment with regulatory and data protection requirements that are critical for European stakeholders.”

NeoNephos will focus on several key areas, including:

Cloud Infrastructure: Developing and promoting open, interoperable cloud technologies tailored to the needs of European enterprises and governments.Digital Sovereignty: Ensuring that organizations retain full control over their data and infrastructure while maintaining compliance with European regulations.Collaboration & Innovation: Providing a vendor-neutral environment where contributors can build, deploy, and scale cloud-native solutions that support a thriving digital economy.

A broad coalition of founding members is joining the NeoNephos Foundation to accelerate its mission, including leading technology companies, cloud providers, and research institutions. Initial members include Clyso GmbH, Cyberus Technology, Deutsche Telekom AG, SAP SE, TNO – ECOFED, and 23 Technologies GmbH. These organizations bring deep expertise and a shared commitment to fostering an open cloud ecosystem that prioritizes transparency, security, and interoperability.

NeoNephos welcomes additional members, contributors, and collaborators to get involved and support its efforts. Organizations and individuals interested in participating can find more information at neonephos.org.

Supporting Quotes

“8ra is one of the key initiatives to advance Europe´s digital sovereignty. It is currently driven by more than 120 companies from 12 EU Member States creating a strong basis for an innovative multi-provider cloud edge continuum. At the heart of the initiative lies the development of Open Source components. In that regard the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK) welcomes the creation of the NeoNephos foundation under the umbrella of the Linux Foundation Europe. It will be a cornerstone to get the community involved to further develop the next generation of cloud and edge services.
– Ernst Stoeckl-Pukall, Head of Division, Industry 4.0, Digitalization, BMW

“As a long-standing advocate of open source solutions, I am excited about the launch of the NeoNephos Foundation, which aligns perfectly with CLYSO’s commitment to harnessing open source software for innovative data management. NeoNephos represents a significant step forward in Europe’s quest for digital autonomy and cloud sovereignty. By fostering collaboration between industry leaders, technology providers and academic institutions, NeoNephos will accelerate the development of secure, scalable and transparent cloud solutions that meet European regulatory standards. At CLYSO, we are excited to contribute our expertise and engage in this global community, working together to shape the future of cloud infrastructure in Europe.”
– Joachim Kraftmayer, CEO at CLYSO GmbH

“At Cyberus Technology, we believe open-source is vital to Europe’s digital sovereignty, driving collaboration and innovation across borders. The Linux Foundation Europe and the new NeoNephos Foundation perfectly represent this vision, and we at Cyberus Technology are proud to be part of it.”
 –Tor Lund-Larsen, CEO Cyberus Technology

“A team is always stronger and better. With joint efforts we can ensure that Europe determines its own digital future and stays independent. For decades, T-Systems developed sovereign solutions for Germany and Europe together with other players. That is why we also heavily invest in building a cloud-edge infrastructure in IPCEI-CIS. NeoNephos as a shared open source standard will be a key enabler to make this a success.”
– Ferri Abolhassan, CEO T-Systems and Member of the Board of Management Deutsche Telekom AG

“At SAP, open innovation is central to our strategy. By initiating the Neonephos Foundation and transferring several of our latest flagship open source projects—developed as part of the EU IPCEI-CIS initiative—we are advancing a collaborative, secure, and interoperable cloud and edge ecosystem in Europe. This step reinforces our commitment to digital sovereignty while setting a new benchmark for innovation that drives tangible value for the European digital economy.”
– Michael Ameling, Member of the SAP SE Extended Board, General Manager & Chief Product Officer Business Technology Platform

“Contributing to NeoNephos allows STACKIT to develop an interoperable cloud and edge computing ecosystem. This aligns perfectly with our commitment to a digitally sovereign Europe.”
– Bernie Wagner, CEO of STACKIT

“As an independent applied research institute in the Netherlands, TNO is proud to work with NeoNephos in shaping the EU’s sovereign cloud foundation. NeoNephos aligns with the goals of the Dutch IPCEI CIS project ECOFED; a consortium project with the Dutch SME cloud industry to come to open a federated cloud ecosystem.”
–Berry Vetjens, Director Market unit ICT, Strategy & Policy, TNO – ECOFED|

“We are honoured to join the NeoNephos Foundation as 23 Technologies and actively participate in the development of an open, interoperable and sovereign cloud-edge ecosystem. The initiative is a crucial step for Europe’s digital autonomy and we are proud to contribute with our expertise to open collaboration and innovation”.
–Christian Berendt, Founder of 23 Technologies

About Linux Foundation Europe and the Linux Foundation
Linux Foundation Europe is the Brussels-based European chapter of the Linux Foundation. The Linux Foundation is the world’s leading home for global collaboration on open source software, hardware, standards, and data. Linux Foundation projects are critical to the world’s infrastructure, including Linux, Kubernetes, Node.js, ONAP, OpenChain, OpenSSF, PyTorch, RISC-V, SPDX, Zephyr, and more. The Linux Foundation focuses on leveraging best practices and addressing the needs of contributors, users, and solution providers to create sustainable models for open collaboration. For more information, please visit us at linuxfoundation.org.

The Linux Foundation has registered trademarks and uses trademarks. For a list of trademarks of The Linux Foundation, please see its trademark usage page: www.linuxfoundation.org/trademark-usage. Linux is a registered trademark of Linus Torvalds.

Media Contact
Federica Nocerino
federica@linuxfoundation.eu
Linux Foundation Europe

 

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ST Engineering iDirect and MBSat Partner to Build Next-Generation Sovereign Connectivity Services Across Oman and the Middle East

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Intuition ground system selected to support MBSat’s planned 2027 service launch, enabling accelerated deployment, dynamic resource management and scalable service growth

HERNDON, Va., Oct. 25, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — ST Engineering iDirect today announced a strategic partnership with Mohammed Al Barwani Satellite Company (MBSat), part of Mohammed Al Barwani Group, to provide the ground system technology foundation for MBSat’s next-generation satellite gateway and network operations across Oman and the wider Middle East region. Intuition will provide a flexible, software-defined foundation to support sovereign connectivity services, enabling efficient service deployment, dynamic resource management and scalable network operations.

Intuition will deliver a turnkey ground segment solution that accelerates deployment, simplifies operations and gives MBSat the flexibility to scale services as demand grows. The software-defined platform enables dynamic resource management, service automation and seamless integration with existing and future operational systems. The solution also includes Ka-band gateway infrastructure, service provisioning and management capabilities, open API integration frameworks, training and full-lifecycle support. Together, these capabilities will help MBSat launch and operate services efficiently while adapting to evolving market requirements.

The network will leverage capacity from MB Sat-1, a sovereign MicroGEO satellite, with planned service launch in 2027, to support flexible, scalable connectivity services across the region.

The partnership reflects growing investment in sovereign communications infrastructure across the Middle East as operators seek greater control over service delivery, network expansion and long-term technology evolution.

“This partnership represents an important milestone in our efforts to build an advanced satellite communications platform in Oman and the region,” said Ammar Al Rawahi, General Manager, MBSat. “Through our collaboration with ST Engineering iDirect, we are establishing the technical infrastructure required to launch services efficiently, respond to evolving customer needs and expand into new markets, supporting the sustainable long-term growth of our business.”

“We are providing MBSat with a flexible, software-defined ground platform that integrates with its existing operational environment,” said Sridhar Kuppanna, Chief Executive Officer, ST Engineering iDirect. “This enables more efficient service deployment and operations today, with the flexibility to scale, introduce new capabilities and evolve as requirements change.”

About ST Engineering iDirect

ST Engineering iDirect, a subsidiary of ST Engineering, is a global leader in satellite communications, providing technology and solutions that enable its customers to expand their business, differentiate their services and optimize their networks. Through its portfolio of ground infrastructure, intelligent networking and advanced satellite communications solutions, the company supports operators, service providers, governments and enterprises worldwide.

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SOURCE ST Engineering iDirect

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ST Engineering iDirect and MBSat Partner to Build Next-Generation Sovereign Connectivity Services Across Oman and the Middle East

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Intuition ground system selected to support MBSat’s planned 2027 service launch, enabling accelerated deployment, dynamic resource management and scalable service growth

HERNDON, Va., Oct. 25, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — ST Engineering iDirect today announced a strategic partnership with Mohammed Al Barwani Satellite Company (MBSat), part of Mohammed Al Barwani Group, to provide the ground system technology foundation for MBSat’s next-generation satellite gateway and network operations across Oman and the wider Middle East region. Intuition will provide a flexible, software-defined foundation to support sovereign connectivity services, enabling efficient service deployment, dynamic resource management and scalable network operations.

Intuition will deliver a turnkey ground segment solution that accelerates deployment, simplifies operations and gives MBSat the flexibility to scale services as demand grows. The software-defined platform enables dynamic resource management, service automation and seamless integration with existing and future operational systems. The solution also includes Ka-band gateway infrastructure, service provisioning and management capabilities, open API integration frameworks, training and full-lifecycle support. Together, these capabilities will help MBSat launch and operate services efficiently while adapting to evolving market requirements.

The network will leverage capacity from MB Sat-1, a sovereign MicroGEO satellite, with planned service launch in 2027, to support flexible, scalable connectivity services across the region.

The partnership reflects growing investment in sovereign communications infrastructure across the Middle East as operators seek greater control over service delivery, network expansion and long-term technology evolution.

“This partnership represents an important milestone in our efforts to build an advanced satellite communications platform in Oman and the region,” said Ammar Al Rawahi, General Manager, MBSat. “Through our collaboration with ST Engineering iDirect, we are establishing the technical infrastructure required to launch services efficiently, respond to evolving customer needs and expand into new markets, supporting the sustainable long-term growth of our business.”

“We are providing MBSat with a flexible, software-defined ground platform that integrates with its existing operational environment,” said Sridhar Kuppanna, Chief Executive Officer, ST Engineering iDirect. “This enables more efficient service deployment and operations today, with the flexibility to scale, introduce new capabilities and evolve as requirements change.”

About ST Engineering iDirect

ST Engineering iDirect, a subsidiary of ST Engineering, is a global leader in satellite communications, providing technology and solutions that enable its customers to expand their business, differentiate their services and optimize their networks. Through its portfolio of ground infrastructure, intelligent networking and advanced satellite communications solutions, the company supports operators, service providers, governments and enterprises worldwide.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/st-engineering-idirect-and-mbsat-partner-to-build-next-generation-sovereign-connectivity-services-across-oman-and-the-middle-east-302918467.html

SOURCE ST Engineering iDirect

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Global Security & Technology Summit Unveils Month-Long Program of Activities Ahead of December Event

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RIYADH, Saudi Arabia, Oct. 24, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — The Organizing Committee of the Global Security & Technology Summit (GSTS) held an introductory session today at the Ministry of Interior’s headquarters in Riyadh, bringing together representatives from the government, private, and nonprofit sectors to introduce the program of activities leading up to the summit. The upcoming summit will be held in Riyadh under the patronage of HRH Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, under the supervision of HRH Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Naif bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Minister of Interior, and organized by the Ministry of Interior in cooperation with Tuwaiq Academy.

During the session, the Organizing Committee presented the comprehensive GSTS program, comprising three key components: GSTS Month, running from November 1 to 30, 2026; the Global Security & Innovation Fair (SAIF), taking place from November 24 to 26, 2026; and the main Summit, scheduled for December 18 to 20, 2026, in Riyadh. Together, these events form an integrated program designed to advance security and technology innovation, strengthen national capabilities, and foster international cooperation.

GSTS Month will feature working groups, boot camps, training programs, knowledge-sharing sessions, and technical workshops across Saudi Arabia’s 13 administrative regions, delivered both in person and remotely in collaboration with specialized entities. The month-long program aims to develop national capabilities, identify emerging talent, enrich knowledge-sharing opportunities, and equip professionals with the knowledge and skills needed to develop innovative solutions to future security and technology challenges.

The main Summit will bring together global leaders, decision-makers, experts, and innovators to explore the future of security and technology, promote the integration of advanced technologies within the security sector, strengthen national capabilities, support innovation, and foster international cooperation, further positioning the Kingdom as a global hub for security and technology.

Showcasing the latest technological breakthroughs and security solutions, the summit will bring together government entities, private sector organizations, academic institutions, and research centers to facilitate knowledge exchange and collaboration across key fields, including cybersecurity, artificial intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things (IoT), smart security solutions, emerging technologies, and crisis management. The program will also feature main sessions, specialized discussions, and interactive exhibitions. Registration is available at gsts.sa.

Advisor to HRH the Minister of Interior and Chairman of the GSTS Organizing Committee, Ahmed Altowayan, stated that the summit builds on Saudi Arabia’s efforts to establish an advanced security and technology ecosystem focused on knowledge and innovation, keeping pace with rapid developments and future challenges.

Mr. Altowayan noted that the summit is a global platform for strengthening cooperation and exchanging expertise, anticipating future developments in security and technology, and developing strategic partnerships and innovative solutions that enhance the efficiency and readiness of security systems.

Vice Chairman of the GSTS Organizing Committee, Eng. Abdulaziz Alhammadi, said that the summit will offer a range of integrated programs and activities focused on enhancing national skills, encouraging innovation, and supporting international cooperation.

He added that GSTS Month will help build national capabilities, discover talent, and develop skills, with SAIF providing a platform for innovators and researchers from around the world to showcase leading technological solutions, while the main Summit will bring together leaders and experts to discuss the future of security and technology and explore new strategic partnership opportunities.

SAIF will take place at the Riyadh International Convention & Exhibition Center, bringing together innovators, researchers, technology talents, and industry experts from around the world to showcase promising innovations and projects across 14 fields of technology and innovation. The fair will provide opportunities to engage with project owners, including students, graduates, and entrepreneurs, and explore the different stages of innovation development through interactive zones, panel discussions on emerging security and innovation trends, and knowledge-sharing workshops led by specialists. Visitor registration is open to participants from within and outside the Kingdom through saifair.sa.

The introductory session also featured contributions from representatives of government, private, and nonprofit sector entities, alongside members of the media. Discussions focused on developing national capabilities in security and technology, strengthening students’ technical expertise, translating scientific research into practical solutions, and supporting Saudi companies in developing security and technology solutions and advancing digital transformation.

Organized by the Ministry of Interior in cooperation with Tuwaiq Academy, GSTS is produced by Tahaluf, with the Ministry of Education serving as Strategic Scientific Partner, Tahakom as Founding Partner, and Elm as Principal Partner.

Registration for participants from within and outside the Kingdom is available at gsts.sa.

Click here to view the media kit. 

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