Civil Infrastructure Platform Marks 10 Years of Advancing Open Source Linux for Critical Industries

Celebrating a Decade of the Civil Infrastructure Platform

On April 29, 2026, the Civil Infrastructure Platform (CIP), a collaborative initiative hosted by the Linux Foundation, proudly announces its 10th anniversary. Established in 2016 by key figures in the railway, electric power, and factory automation industries, CIP has played a vital role in building a robust industrial-grade Linux ecosystem. Its services, including Super Long Term Support (SLTS) and CIP Core, have fostered advancements that are crucial for sustainable development in global infrastructure.

The Journey of CIP

CIP was conceived during a time when skepticism surrounded the longevity and reliability of open-source software in critical sectors. Fast forward to today, and its contributions speak volumes about its success. With an increasingly intricate landscape defined by new regulations—such as the European Cyber Resilience Act—the significance of CIP as a dependable resource for open-source solutions in critical infrastructure has only grown.

Urs Gleim, Chair of the CIP Governing Board and Head of Central Research and Development at Siemens, stated, "Ten years ago, we set out to support critical infrastructure with open source amidst skepticism. Today, our efforts have developed into a foundational platform that secures rail systems and power grids across the globe, fulfilling the ambitious vision we had in the beginning."

Key Achievements

1. Enhanced Security Measures

CIP has made substantial inroads in security standardization, significantly reducing certification costs for companies dealing with infrastructure through compliance with IEC 62443 standards. This compliance has enabled companies to navigate the regulatory landscape more efficiently while ensuring that their systems remain secure.

2. Sustainable Growth of the Ecosystem

One of the standout features of CIP is its commitment to fostering a sustainable ecosystem. By relaying feedback and fixes from the industrial sector back to upstream communities, CIP has played a key role in enhancing the overall quality of Linux for its users, agencies, and local communities, promoting an environment of continuous improvement.

3. Global Collaborative Efforts

CIP has created an unprecedented coalition of competitors from diverse corners of the world, including Europe, Asia, and the Americas. Their collective aim is to protect the security of social infrastructure, a mission that has never been more critical than in the current digital age.

Impact on Critical Sectors

The repercussions of CIP's work are particularly salient in sectors where uptime is non-negotiable, including energy production, railway monitoring, and advanced healthcare devices. Especially in 2026, as the demand for reliable edge AI in infrastructure grows, CIP stands ready to provide a deterministic and safe Linux foundation.

CIP’s journey highlights the importance of collaboration and transparency in developing sustainable solutions that meet the pressing needs of today’s digital society. Partner members, including Siemens, Toshiba, and Texas Instruments, have already begun to see the fruits of this collaboration, solidifying their positions as leaders in their respective fields.

Future Outlook

CIP does not intend to rest on its laurels. Its goal extends beyond merely maintaining code; it seeks to continuously provide 'unwavering trust' through technology as our society becomes increasingly reliant on digital solutions. By collaborating with various entities, from Freexian to the Reproducible Builds project, the initiative ensures that the open-source backbone supporting critical infrastructure remains both robust and visibly secure.

As CIP embarks on its next chapter, tools like Linux continue to be integral, paving the way for innovations that will shape secure and resilient infrastructures for many years to come.

For more in-depth insights and to join the growing community of developers, individuals are encouraged to visit the CIP Project Home and participate through CIP GitLab.