Reuse before buy before build

Statement

We reuse existing solutions first, buy standard solutions second, and build custom solutions only as a last resort.

Rationale

Custom development is expensive to build and maintain, which weighs heavily on small states. Shared and standard components benefit from scale and from the knowledge of a wider community.

Implications

• Suitable digital public goods and open-source components are considered first.
• Standard software is not customised, unless the change is contributed back to the standard.
• Countries accept some local compromise to make shared solutions possible.

References: Sigra 2025; EC 2017; Digital Impact Alliance n.d.; Nictiz & The Open Group 2023; Zorgring 2025.