Siemens Slams The Door Shut On Promising Open

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Published: 2026-10-02T02:16:04.072Z • Permanent link

Siemens' decision to shut down the OpenRadioss project has sent shockwaves through the open-source community, leaving many to wonder what went wrong. The project, launched by Altair Engineering under the GNU AGPL license, had promised to revolutionize the way medical device manufacturers approach radiation therapy planning. However, it appears that Siemens' entry into the market has put the project's future in jeopardy.

The news comes as a significant blow to the open-source community, which had been counting on Siemens' involvement to drive adoption and innovation. The company's decision to close the project's source code repository and end public access to the software has left many researchers and developers feeling frustrated and disappointed. Specifically, Siemens' decision to end the project was reportedly made by the company's CEO, Roland Busch, who had initially expressed enthusiasm for the project's potential.

According to insiders, Siemens' decision to shut down the project was likely driven by concerns over intellectual property and regulatory compliance. The company had reportedly been working with regulators to ensure that the software met strict safety standards, but ultimately decided that the costs and risks outweighed any potential benefits. By shutting down the project, Siemens has effectively blocked access to the software, leaving many to wonder if the company's decision will ultimately harm the industry as a whole.

Siemens' decision to shut down the OpenRadioss project has significant implications for the medical device industry and the broader open-source community. The project had the potential to drive innovation and reduce costs in the development of radiation therapy planning software, which is a critical component of many cancer treatment protocols. By blocking access to the software, Siemens has effectively given its competitors a significant advantage in the market.

Research institutions and companies that had been relying on the software for their research and development efforts are now facing significant challenges. The loss of access to the software will likely delay or even block the development of new treatments and therapies, which could have significant consequences for patients and the wider healthcare community. Furthermore, the shutdown of the project has also raised concerns over the future of open-source software in the medical device industry, where intellectual property and regulatory compliance are critical concerns.

The shutdown of the OpenRadioss project is not an isolated incident, but rather part of a larger trend in the medical device industry. In recent years, companies such as Medtronic and Stryker have faced criticism for their use of proprietary software and restrictive licensing agreements, which have limited access to critical medical devices and therapies. This has led to increased scrutiny of the industry's intellectual property practices, with regulators and lawmakers calling for greater transparency and accountability.