  One important goal in sustainability is making technologies available to the
maximum possible number of individuals, and especially to those living in less
developed areas (Goal 9 of SDG). However, the diffusion of technical knowledge
is hindered by a number of factors, among which the Intellectual Property
Rights (IPR) system plays a primary role. While opinions about the real effect
of IPRs in stimulating and disseminating innovation differ, there is a growing
number of authors arguing that a different approach may be more effective in
promoting global development. The success of the Open Source (OS) model in the
field of software has led analysts to speculate whether this paradigm can be
extended to other fields. Key to this model are both free access to knowledge
and the right to use other people's results.
  Abstract After reviewing the main features of the OS model, we explore
different areas where it can be profitably applied, such as hardware design and
production; we finally discuss how academical institutions can (and should)
help diffusing the OS philosophy and practice. Widespread use of OS software,
fostering of research projects aimed to use and develop OS software and
hardware, the use of open education tools, and a strong commitment to open
access publishing are some of the discussed examples.
