At the Nextcloud Summit 2026 in Munich, the Nextcloud Awards recognized two organizations that show what digital sovereignty looks like in practice: ISKA Nürnberg and Freies Radio Innsbruck (FREIRAD).

The Nextcloud Awards highlight people, organizations and projects working towards a future where not corporations but users control their own data. This year, the decision was anything but easy for the jury, consisting of Björn Staschen (co-founder of Save Social), Pernille Tranberg (journalist, independent advisor in data and AI ethics), Anke Domscheit-Berg (journalist and former member of the German Bundestag), Maddalena Falzoni (founding member and Head of Technology of Xnet) and Frank Karlitschek, founder and CEO of Nextcloud. The quality of the nominations was so strong that, in the end, the jury decided to recognize two organizations as “Implementation Role Models”. Both stood out for their long-standing commitment to Open Source and for showing how digital sovereignty can be put into practice with consistency, courage and real impact.

Introducing the two winners

The jury honored ISKA Nürnberg and Radio FREIRAD for their long-standing commitment to Open Source, their willingness to take responsibility for their digital infrastructure and their role as practical examples for others.

ISKA Nürnberg, the Institute for Social and Cultural Work, has been relying on Open Source technologies for decades. The non-profit organization works across social, educational and cultural fields, including daycare centers, volunteer initiatives and debt counselling. Across its locations in Nuremberg and Fürth, ISKA has built a largely independent digital environment based on Open Source software – from internal administration and communication to collaboration, education and citizen services.

“As an innovative social enterprise, we need well-adapted IT that can be continuously developed. For decades, we have relied on Open Source to achieve this,” said Günter Krauß, former managing director and current administrative board member of ISKA.

Freies Radio Innsbruck was also honored for its consistent commitment to Open Source and independent digital infrastructure. For more than two decades, the Austrian community radio station has provided a non-commercial platform for media diversity, participation and democratic engagement. Its more than 400 volunteer broadcasters rely on infrastructure that reflects the same values as FREIRAD’s media work: openness, accessibility and independence.

“FREIRAD has its roots in the fight against monopolies. That spirit has never left us. With every technical decision – especially when it involves data about people – we do not only ask what is convenient or easier. We ask: what are the consequences, for whom, and who benefits from what? Democracy is work. Sovereignty is work. And sovereignty is often uncomfortable. But this is what we stand for, and we are especially pleased to be recognized today with the Nextcloud Award for this work over many decades,” said Bettina Lutz, managing director of FREIRAD.

Both awardees demonstrate that digital sovereignty is not only a political goal or a technical concept. It is something organizations build through everyday decisions, long-term commitment and the courage to choose alternatives. Their work shows that Open Source can create value far beyond IT departments – for social services, education, media diversity and democratic participation.

Congratulations to ISKA Nürnberg and Freies Radio Innsbruck!