Last Updated on 10. November 2026
mgm technology partners and CIB software GmbH, both headquartered in Munich, have been technology partners since June 2025, bringing together two independent open source technologies for public administration: mgm’s A12 AI Low Code Platform and the process engine CIB seven. As a result, digital sovereignty no longer begins only with the operation of IT systems – it also extends to the processes through which government services are delivered. Public agencies can model, execute, and evolve their processes over the long term based on open standards – without being locked into a single vendor.
From Camunda 7 to CIB seven: Continuing to Use Existing Processes
There is a concrete reason behind the integration of CIB seven into A12 Workflows: mgm previously used the Community Edition of Camunda 7. Camunda has discontinued its development as free software and has no longer provided support for the open source Community Edition since October 2025.
Since its initial release in November 2024, CIB seven has been the compatible open source continuation of the Camunda 7 engine, and it has since been developed further as a core CIB product. Existing Camunda 7 applications and process models therefore remain usable. Within A12 Workflows, the switch was made as a drop-in replacement, with no changes required to existing application code.
Two Technologies, One Open Architecture
The collaboration follows a clear division of roles: A12 defines the rules. CIB seven executes what happens. A12 enables model-driven development of business applications. Data, user interfaces, documents, and business rules are described in models and maintained independently of their technical implementation. As a process engine, CIB seven executes business processes based on BPMN 2.0 and decisions based on DMN. This also includes managing deadlines and escalations and monitoring running processes.
Both products remain independent. CIB seven can be used within an A12 application, but it can also be operated on its own. The result is a modular architecture in which individual technologies can evolve without rebuilding the entire application.
Digital Sovereignty Through Open Standards and Long-Term Commitment
Open source code alone is not enough to ensure digital sovereignty. Transparent licensing terms, vendor-neutral standards, and the long-term availability and maintenance of the technologies in use are just as essential.
A12 and CIB seven are open source and listed on openCode, the open source software platform for public administration in Germany. CIB seven continues the technology of the Camunda 7 engine under the Apache 2.0 license. The processes are based on BPMN 2.0 and DMN, established standards of the Object Management Group. As a result, process models remain readable, auditable, and fundamentally usable independently of the specific product deployed. For public agencies, this primarily means investment protection and greater room to maneuver. Business processes and models can be preserved, further developed, and reused for other applications. Dependence on individual platforms or vendors decreases.
While mgm continues to develop the A12 platform, CIB is responsible for the long-term maintenance and further development of CIB seven. In this way, both companies combine technological openness with reliable product ownership. Georg Hatzelmann, Managing Director of CIB software GmbH, explains: “Open software alone does not guarantee secure long-term operation. Companies and public agencies need technologies they can rely on in the future as well. With CIB seven, we combine the freedom of open source with continuous development and reliable support. The integration into A12 shows how this approach also works in complex platform architectures.”
From Application to Official Decision: Digitizing Administrative Processes End to End
The processing of an administrative application illustrates how the technologies work together. A12 maps forms, data, and business rules and validates entries as early as the moment the application is submitted. CIB seven manages the rest of the workflow and makes the necessary decisions based on BPMN 2.0 and DMN. An official decision notice can then be generated automatically and its dispatch initiated.
In this way, individual processing steps become a seamless digital workflow. Manual tasks and media breaks are reduced, while the underlying process models remain intact regardless of the specific application. AI capabilities can also be integrated into this architecture. A12 supports AI-assisted modeling and development, while CIB seven enables AI tasks to be integrated into running processes.
“Digital sovereignty must not stop at the surface of an application form – it has to be implemented consistently from end to end. That includes the processes and decisions running in the background. That is why we rely on open standards and independently usable components for A12. With CIB seven, we have integrated a process engine that supports this approach and gives us the flexibility we need to continue developing our platform independently,” says Sergio Lerena, Member of the Executive Board at mgm technology partners.
Joint Appearance at Smart Country Convention 2026
At the Smart Country Convention in Berlin in October, mgm and CIB presented the integration of A12 and CIB seven. In doing so, both companies underscored their close collaboration and reaffirmed their goal of further expanding and deepening their existing partnership for the long term.
The joint approach makes clear that digital sovereignty does not depend solely on the choice of a platform. What matters is that processes and their business models also remain open, portable, and reusable over the long term.
Further information:
- Website: A12 AI Low Code Platform
- Website: CIB seven
