Johan Linåker

Senior Researcher at RISE Research Institutes of Sweden and Adjunct Assistant Professor at Lund University

Glasses resting on an open book

Ongoing work / In submission

  • Chren, S.. Fagerholm, F., Bjarnason, E., Linåker, J., Rafi. S., & Lehtelä, B. (2026). Exploring Experiment Cases in Continuous Experimentation: A Systematic Literature Review. In submission.
  • Larsson, J., Linåker, J., & Runeson, P. (2026). Exploring public-private data sharing practices through the lens of Open Data Ecosystems: A multiple case study on municipal and regional freight logistics. In submission.
  • Linåker, J., Bjarnason, E., & Fagerholm, F. (2026). Experimentation in Game Development: An Interview Survey. In submission.
  • Linåker, J., Osborne, C., Ding, J., & Burthenshaw, B. (2025). A cartography of open collaboration in open source ai: Mapping practices, motivations, and governance in 14 open large language model projects. In submission.DOIPDF

Technical reports

  • Linåker, J. (2026). National Support Structures and Capabilities for growing Digital Sovereignty through Sharing and Reuse of Open Source Software in the Public Sector. RISE Research Institutes of Sweden, Lund, Sweden. Commissioned by the Danish Agency of Digital Government and Local Government Denmark.DOIPDF
  • Linåker, J., Gates, N., Chourmouziadis, Y., & Weber, S. (2025). Open Source Software Adoption and Reuse in European Local Governments A Multiple-Case Study. Directorate-General for Digital Services (DIGIT).DOIPDF
  • Lundahl, J., Benmayor, A., Linåker, J., Östling, A., Nordell, E., Wernicke, P., Burden H., & Stenberg, S. (2025). Report on existing regulatory frameworks and governance mechanisms for mobility data sharing. deployEMDS Consortium.DOIPDF
  • Linåker, J., & Muto, S. (2024). Software Reuse through Open Source Software in the Public Sector: A qualitative survey on Policy and Practice. RISE Research Institutes of Sweden, Lund, Sweden. Commissioned by the Danish Agency of Digital Government and Local Government Denmark.DOIPDF
  • Linåker, J., & Nummelin Carlberg, A. (2024). Open Source Software in the Automotive Industry - A Vision Paper. Eclipse Software Defined Vehicle Working Group, Brussels, Belgium.PDF
  • Linåker, J., Nummelin Carlberg, A., & O’Riordan, C. (2024). Institutionalising Support for Open Source Software in the European Public Sector. Directorate-General Informatics, European Commission, Brussels, Belgium.Under internal publication process of the EC
  • Linåker, J., & Runeson, P. (2022). Rekommendationer för samverkan och delning av data, teknik och kunskap inom myndighetsdrivna öppna data-ekosystem. Lund University, Lund, Sweden.DOIPDF
  • Linåker, J., Sulaman, S. M., Maiani de Mello, R., & Höst, M. (2015). Guidelines for conducting surveys in software engineering. Lund University, Lund, Sweden.DOIPDF

Book chapters

  • Bjarnason, E., Linåker, J., & Fagerholm, F. (2025). Experimentation practice in indie game startups. In: Advances in software startups: generative AI, product engineering and business development (pp. 137-152). Springer Nature.DOIPDF
  • Linåker, J., Rudmark, D., Östling, A. (2025). Lessons Learnt from Horizontal Coordination of Data Ecosystems in the Swedish Public Transport Sector. In: Behnke, N., Petersohn, B. (eds) Horizontal Intergovernmental Coordination at Local and Regional Levels. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham.DOIPDF
  • Germonprez, M. & Linåker, J. (2024). Chapter 5: Measuring and Communicating Impact by your OSPO. The Open Source (Program) Office Book. The TODO Group/Linux Foundation.PDF

Peer-reviewed papers

2026

  • Linåker, J., Lumbard, K., & Link, G. (2026). Making Impact Visible in Funding of Open Source Software: A Study of the Funders Perspective. In Proceedings of the 20th International Symposium on Empirical Software Engineering and Measurement.DOIPDF
  • Alami, A., Klockmann, S., Rehder Sörensen, L., Pardo, R., & Linåker, J. (2026). Incubation and Beyond: A Comparative Analysis of ASF Projects Sustainability Impacts on Software Quality. Accepted for publication in Empirical Software Engineering.
  • Linåker, J., & Muto, S. (2025). Advancing Digital Government: Integrating Open Source Software Enablement Indicators in Maturity Indexes. Journal of Systems and Software, 113031.DOIPDF
  • Usman, M., Linåker, J., Badampudi, D., & Sahlin, H. (2026). Adopting InnerSource in a Public Sector Organization: An Exploratory Case Study. In Proceedings of the Euromicro Conference on Software Engineering and Advanced Applications.DOIPDF
  • Linåker, J., Nummelin Carlberg, A., & O’Riordan, C. (2025). Public Sector Open Source Program Offices - Archetypes for how to Grow (Common) Institutional Capabilities. Journal of Systems and Software, 112998.DOIPDF
  • Linåker, J., Olsson, T., & Papatheocharous, E. (2026). Assessing open source software health in organizations’ intake processes: A qualitative study on the practitioners’ perspective. Empirical Software Engineering, 31(105), 1-54.DOIPDF

2025

  • Malysh, K., Runeson, P. & Linåker, J. (2025). Preliminary Findings on Establishing a Privately Governed Data Ecosystem for MLOps Data Sharing. IEEE 45th International Conference on Distributed Computing Systems Workshops (ICDCSW): 5th International Workshop on Distributed Infrastructure for Common Good. IEEE, p. 480 486 p.
  • Linåker, J., Lundell, B., Servant, F., Gamalielsson, J., Muto, S., & Robles, G. (2025). Public sector open source software projects-How is development organized?. Empirical Software Engineering, 30(3), 1-54.DOIPDF

2024

  • Linåker, J., Bjarnason, E., & Fagerholm, F. (2024). Pre-Release Experimentation in Indie Game Development: An Interview Survey. In the 15th International Conference on Software Business. Springer.DOIPDF
  • Chren, S., Fagerholm, F., Bjarnason, E., Linåker, J., Rafi, S., Lehtelä, B., Runeson, R. & Kauppinen, M. (2024). Data-Limited Continuous Experimentation (dlCE): A Literature Review. In the 15th International Conference on Software Business. Springer.DOIPDF
  • Linåker, J., Link, G., & Lumbard, K. (2024). Sustaining Maintenance Labor for Healthy Open Source Software Projects through Human Infrastructure: A Maintainer Perspective. In the 18th ACM/IEEE International Symposium on Empirical Software Engineering and Measurement.DOIPDF
  • Persson, P., & Linåker, J. (2024). Soft-lockins in Public sector acquisitions of Open Source Software-solutions: A case study on a e-service platform for Swedish municipalites. In the 58th Hawaii International Conference on System Sciences 2024 (HICSS-58).PDF
  • Larsson, J., Linåker, J., & Runeson, P. (2024). Enabling Data-sharing in Freight Logistics through Open Data Ecosystems. In the International Conference on Electronic Government. Springer, Cham.DOIPDF
  • Malysh, K., Ahmed, T., Linåker, J., & Runeson, P. (2024). Inter-organizational Data Sharing Processes - an exploratory analysis of incentives and challenges. In the 50th Euromicro Conference Series on Software Engineering and Advanced Applications (SEAA).DOIPDF
  • Alami, A., Pardo, R., & Linåker, J. (2024). Free open source communities sustainability: Does it make a difference in software quality?. Empirical Software Engineering, 29(5), 114.DOIPDF
  • Schweik, C., & Linåker, J. (2024). Enabling sustainable collaboration on open source software in and among European Union municipalities. Workshop on the Ostrom Workshop 7, Indiana University, Bloomington.DOIPDF

2023

  • Susha, I., van den Broek, T.A., van Veenstra, A.F., & Linåker, J. (2023). An ecosystem perspective on developing data collaboratives for addressing societal issues: The role of conveners. Government Information Quarterly. 101763.DOIPDF

2022

  • Linåker, J., Papatheocharous, E., & Olsson, T. (2022). How to characterize the health of an Open Source Software project? A snowball literature review of an emerging practice. In the 18th International Symposium on Open Collaboration.DOIPDFData set from literature review
  • Linåker, J., & Runeson, P. (2022). Sustaining Open Data as a Digital Common-Design principles for Common Pool Resources applied to Open Data Ecosystems. In the International Symposium on Open Collaboration.DOIPDF

2021

  • Runeson, P., Olsson, T., & Linåker, J. (2021). Open Data Ecosystems—An empirical investigation into an emerging industry collaboration concept. Journal of Systems and Software, 182, 111088.DOIPDF
  • Linåker, J., & Runeson, P. (2021). How to Enable Collaboration in Open Government Data Ecosystems: A Public Platform Provider’s Perspective. eJournal of eDemocracy & Open Government, 13(1).DOIPDF
  • Damian, D., Linåker, J., Johnson, D., Clear, T., & Blincoe, K. (2021). Challenges and Strategies for Managing Requirements Selection in Software Ecosystems. IEEE Software, 38(6), 76-87.DOI

2020

  • Linåker, J., & Regnell, B. (2020). What to share, when, and where: balancing the objectives and complexities of open source software contributions. Empirical Software Engineering, 25(5), 3799-3840.DOIPDFContribution request form questions
  • Linåker, J., Regnell, B., & Damian, D. (2020). A method for analyzing stakeholders’ influence on an open source software ecosystem’s requirements engineering process. Requirements Engineering, 25(1), 115-130.DOIPDF
  • Linåker, J., & Runeson, P. (2020). Public sector platforms going open: creating and growing an ecosystem with open collaborative development. In the 16th International Symposium on Open Collaboration (pp. 1-10).DOIPDF
  • Linåker, J., & Runeson, P. (2020). Collaboration in open government data ecosystems: Open cross-sector sharing and co-development of data and software. In International Conference on Electronic Government (pp. 290-303). Springer, Cham.DOIPDF

2019

  • Linåker, J., Regnell, B., & Damian, D. (2019). A Community Strategy Framework–How to obtain influence on requirements in meritocratic open source software communities?. Information and Software Technology, 112, 102-114.DOIPDF
  • Blincoe, K., Dehghan, A., Salaou, A. D., Neal, A., Linåker, J., & Damian, D. (2019). High-level software requirements and iteration changes: a predictive model. Empirical Software Engineering, 24(3), 1610-1648.DOI

2018

  • Linåker, J., Munir, H., Wnuk, K., & Mols, C. E. (2018). Motivating the contributions: An open innovation perspective on what to share as open source software. Journal of Systems and Software, 135, 17-36.DOIPDF
  • Munir, H., Linåker, J., Wnuk, K., Runeson, P., & Regnell, B. (2018). Open innovation using open source tools: A case study at Sony Mobile. Empirical Software Engineering, 23(1), 186-223.DOIPDF

2017

  • Dehghan, A., Neal, A., Blincoe, K., Linåker, J., & Damian, D. (2017). Predicting likelihood of requirement implementation within the planned iteration: an empirical study at IBM. In 2017 IEEE/ACM 14th International Conference on Mining Software Repositories (MSR) (pp. 124-134). IEEE.DOI
  • Linåker, J., & Regnell, B. (2017). A contribution management framework for firms engaged in open source software ecosystems-a research preview. In International Working Conference on Requirements Engineering: Foundation for Software Quality (pp. 50-57). Springer, Cham.DOIPDF
  • Mols, C. E., Wnuk, K., & Linåker, J. (2017, May). The open source officer role–experiences. In IFIP International Conference on Open Source Systems (pp. 55-59). Springer, Cham.DOI

2016

  • Linåker, J., Rempel, P., Regnell, B., & Mäder, P. (2016). How firms adapt and interact in open source ecosystems: Analyzing stakeholder influence and collaboration patterns. In International Working Conference on Requirements Engineering: Foundation for Software Quality (pp. 63-81). Springer, Cham.DOIPDF
  • Linåker, J., & Wnuk, K. (2016). Requirements analysis and management for benefiting openness. In 2016 IEEE 24th International Requirements Engineering Conference Workshops (REW) (pp. 344-349). IEEE.DOIPDF

2015

  • Linåker, J., Regnell, B., & Munir, H. (2015). Requirements engineering in open innovation: a research agenda. In Proceedings of the 2015 International Conference on Software and System Process (pp. 208-212).DOIPDF
  • Linåker, J., Munir, H., Runeson, P., Regnell, B., & Schrewelius, C. (2015). A survey on the perception of innovation in a large product-focused software organization. In International Conference of Software Business (pp. 66-80). Springer, Cham.DOIPDF

2014

  • Linåker, J., Krantz, M., & Höst, M. (2014). On infrastructure for facilitation of inner source in small development teams. In International Conference on Product-Focused Software Process Improvement (pp. 149-163). Springer, Cham.DOIPDF

Pedagogic papers

  • Linåker, J., Alce, G., Eom, N., Niklewski, J., and Iao-Jörgensen, J. (2025). Enabling PhD student collaboration in research groups. Pedagogiska inspirationskonferensen-Genombrottet. Lund University, Lund, Sweden.PDF
  • Linåker, J., Bjarnasson, E., & Regnell, B. (2019). Involving real-world stakeholders in course group projects: Opportunities and challenges [extended abstract]. Lund University’s Teaching and Learning Conference. Lund, Sweden.PDF
  • Bjarnasson, E., & Linåker, J. (2016). Teaching Academic Writing to Large Classes of Engineering Students. Pedagogiska inspirationskonferensen-Genombrottet. Lund University, Lund, Sweden.DOIPDF

Editorials

  • Linåker, J., Robles, G., Bryant, D., & Muto, S. (2023). Open Source Software in the Public Sector: 25 Years and Still in Its Infancy. IEEE Software, 40(4), 39-44.DOIPDF
  • Linåker, J., Runeson, P., Zuiderwijk, A., & Brock, A. (2022). Collaborative Aspects of Open Data in Software Engineering. IEEE Software, 39(1), 31-35.DOIPDF

Media

  • The alarming reality of the worldwide website emergency: As a PHP weakness sparks a global cybersecurity alert, experts warn this is going to happen again. (July, 2026). Interview, Daily Main.Article
  • Microsoft kliver in i Europas AI-bygge – experten varnar för nytt beroende. (July, 2026). Interview, Techtidningen.Article
  • Digital suveränitet kräver mer än datalagring – strategiska vägval formar framtidens digitala landskap. (June, 2026). Interview, NyTeknik.Article
  • Europeans want less dependence on foreign technologies, study finds. (June, 2026). Interview, Euronews.Article
  • Open source heeft ondersteunend ecosysteem nodig. (June, 2026). Article, iBestuur.Article
  • The EU turns to ‘Made in Europe’ tech solutions. (April, 2026). Interview, The Parliament Magazine.Article
  • Oro för USA-samarbete: ”Otroligt märkligt”. (March, 2026). Interview, Svenska Dagbladet.Article
  • Så blir du fri från amerikanska tjänster – här är alternativen. (March, 2026). Interview, PC för Alla.Article
  • Så försöker länder lösa techberoendet av USA – och det kan man göra själv. (March, 2026). Interview, Omni.Article
  • Canada and Europe are breaking away from US tech. Can they collaborate?. (February, 2026). Interview, Cybernews.Article
  • What Europe really thinks of Mark Carney’s new world order. (February, 2026). Interview, The Logic.Article
  • Digital sovereignty (2/3): Can Europe’s businesses survive without US Big Tech?. (February, 2026). Interview, France24.Article
  • Digital sovereignty (1/3): Have Trump’s threats spurred a European awakening?. (February, 2026). Interview, France24.Article
  • Regionen börjar med AI-journaler – trots avrådan?. (Febuary, 2026). Interview, Dagens Nyheter.Article
  • Vad händer om USA drar ur sladden – och släcker molnen?. (January, 2026). Interview, Ekonomikanalen (EFN).Article
  • Europe’s digital reliance on US Big Tech: Does the EU have a plan?. (January, 2026). Interview, France24.Article
  • Svenska forskare: Så klarar vi en IT-krasch. (December, 2025). Interview, Dagensps.se.Article
  • Så kan Sverige klara globalt it-haveri. (December, 2025). Interview and co-authored blog post, Forskning.se.Article
  • Interview on a lock-in situation in the City of Gothenburg. (December, 2025). Ekot (Swedish public service radio national daily news).
  • Så ska EU räddas från digitalt mörker. (November, 2025). Interview and co-authored blog post, Lund University.Article
  • Digitalt beroende gör Europa sårbart. (October, 2025). Interview and co-authored blog post, RISE.Article
  • Interview on Denmark’s increased focus on digital sovereignty. (Sept, 2025). Aktuellt (Swedish public service television national evening news).

Pods

  • Using Metrics in your OSPO. (Mar, 2026). CHAOSSCast.Recording
  • #212 Software Reuse through Open Source Software in the Public Sector. (Jun, 2024). IT Talks.Recording
  • #78 - Open Source, open data, and co-operation – a success factor for the public sector. (May, 2021). IT Talks.Recording
  • #67 Rebroadcast - Open data, open source, open standards, open innovation. (Feb, 2021). IT Talks.Recording
  • #12 - Open data, open source, open standards, open innovation. (Dec, 2019). IT Talks.Recording
  • Linåker, J., Magnusson, J., Svensson, F., and Nummelin-Carlberg, A. Without Open-Source Hardware, There Is No EU Tech Sovereignty. (Oct, 2026). Op-Ed, NyTeknik.Article
  • Serrano, J., Gates, N., and Linåker, J. Without Open-Source Hardware, There Is No EU Tech Sovereignty. (June, 2026). Op-Ed, TechPolicy.press.Article
  • Linåker, J. Europe wants to limit its reliance on foreign tech – but funding is limited and the proposed rules are weak. (June, 2026). News piece, self-authored, The Conversation UK.Article
  • EU:s suveränitetspaket visar vägen mot digital rådighet. (Juni, 2026). Blogpost, RISE.Article
  • Samverkan nyckel till stärkt europeisk digital suveränitet och kontroll. (Maj, 2026). Blogpost, Europakommentaren, Centrum för Europaforskning vid Lunds universitet.Article
  • Digital suveränitet – från osynliga beroenden till strategiska val. (April, 2026). Blogpost, RISE.Article
  • Le Pape, A., Gates, N., Linåker, J., Neuhäusler, P., Luiz Darold, D., & Väliharju, T. EU’s Digital Sovereignty Depends On Investment In Open-Source And Talent. (January, 2026). Op-Ed, TechPolicy.press.Article
  • Linåker, J. Europa vil gøre op med farlig afhængighed af amerikansk internet-teknologi. (January, 2026). News piece, self-authored, Videnskab.dk (translated and republished from The Conversation UK).Article
  • Linåker, J. Så kan vi alla bidra till Europas digitala oberoende. (January, 2026). News piece, self-authored, Forskning och Framsteg (translated and republished from The Conversation UK).Article
  • Linåker, J. Europe wants to end its dangerous reliance on US internet technology. (January, 2026). News piece, self-authored, The Conversation UK.Article
  • Linåker, J. Open Source AI as Sweden’s Path to an Independent Digital Future. (December, 2025). Blog post, self-authored, RISE.Article
  • Nyman, L., Nyström Holm, M., & Linåker, J.. (2021). Dela kostnader och undvik inlåsningar. Series on public procurement and Open Source Software - pt1. Inköpsrådet.DOI
  • Nyman, L., Nyström Holm, M., & Linåker, J.. (2021). Hitta öppen källkod som klarar kraven. Series on public procurement and Open Source Software - pt2. Inköpsrådet.DOI
  • Nyman, L., Nyström Holm, M., & Linåker, J.. (2021). Utvecklas och förvaltas tillsammans. Series on public procurement and Open Source Software - pt3. Inköpsrådet.DOI
  • Nyman, L., Nyström Holm, M., & Linåker, J.. (2021). Undvik inlåsning vid it-upphandling. Series on public procurement and Open Source Software - pt4. Inköpsrådet.DOI
  • Linåker, J., Dalhage, M., Södergren, J., & Nummelin Carlberg, A. (2021). ”Öppen källkod och bättre samarbete behövs för digitaliseringen av offentlig sektor”. Op-Ed, Computer Sweden.DOI
  • Regnell, B., Runeson, P., Höst, M., and Linåker, J. (2015, May). Innovation med öppen källkod ger konkurrensfördelar. Management of Innovation and Technology, volume 2.DOIPDF

Doctoral dissertation

  • Linåker, J. (2019). Guiding Development of Contribution and Community Strategies in Open Source Software Requirements Engineering. Doctoral dissertation. Lund University, Lund, Sweden.DOIPDF