EU Open Source Policy Summit 2025

Registration and coffee

Opening: Astor Nummelin Carlberg

Executive Director, OpenForum Europe

High-Level Panel: What can Open Source do for Europe?

Europe faces considerable challenges to maintain its competitiveness and to position itself in a fast-changing geo-strategic landscape. With the start of a new EU legislative cycle, we will be exploring the role of open source in the EU’s digital strategy at this critical juncture for Europe’s technological edge. This panel will examine how open source can fuel Europe’s digital transformation by promoting digital sovereignty, competitiveness, and innovation. Key topics will include open source innovation and EU software regulation, public and private funding for infrastructure sustainability, and prioritising research in areas such as security, interoperability, and the federation of edge and cloud infrastructures.

Sponsor Keynote: Máirín Duffy

Drawing on more than 20 years of experience as an open source community leader, user experience designer, and project contributor, Ms. Duffy will share lessons learned from the rise of open source software development methodologies and practices which can – and should – inform our societal approach to creation and consumption of artificial intelligence. She will explore how recent innovations can shift the discourse to collaboration and co-creation rather than a zero sum game competition, leading to benefits for a wider audience. Attendees will leave this keynote address understanding how expanded access to shaping the outputs of large language models – and transparently accessing the inputs that underpin them – will create a future in which citizens are empowered to control their own destinies.

Panel: The Open Source Ecosystem - Navigating a World in Transformation

Foundations are a fundamental element of the open source ecosystem. They are at the nexus of the open source collaborative model and are critical to address the challenges facing the ecosystem. The panel will delve into the challenges faced by open source, discussing issues related to the sustainable funding of projects, under-resourced maintainers and developers, and the fragmentation of communities as a result of geopolitical tensions and ensuring continued access to technologies. When discussing these challenges, the panel will highlight the need to find ecosystem-wide and collaborative solutions that further the trust in open source software and unlock the broader societal benefits of open source.

Sponsor Keynote: Open Source in the Automotive Industry and its Regulatory Needs

Coffee break

Special Presentation: Open Source and the United Nations

This special presentation from the United Nations will update attendees on all of the exciting open source activities the UN is leading on, including efforts to improve open source adoption across the UN system, promote the value of open source, and bring together the global open source community. Under-Secretary General and Tech Envoy Amandeep Singh Gill will provide brief remarks via video, after which Open Source Coordinator for the UN-ODET, Omar Mohsine, will make some special announcements on the UN’s works and activities.

Panel: Open Source and Global Digital Cooperation - Positioning Europe as a leader

Europe is a powerhouse for open source innovation and digital policymaking. In this panel, we will consider how Europe’s leading role in the digital realm can be articulated to better advocate for global funding and sharing of open source technologies. Taking a technical and policy perspective, panellists will discuss how emerging ideas and initiatives from Europe can be considered within a more global discussion around digital cooperation. They will focus on topics such as digital commons, digital public infrastructure, and digital public goods.

Sponsor Keynote: Felix Reda

Director of Developer Policy, GitHub

Lunch

Keynote: Valeriya Ionan

Panel: Letta, Draghi and Open Source for a Competitive Europe

The Letta and Draghi reports are clear: Europe must urgently regain its competitive edge in a world increasingly driven by software innovation. With Europe at a crossroads for global competitiveness, open source can play a critical role to drive innovation and competition. This panel will bring together industry experts to discuss how open source technologies offer a solution to the challenges facing European businesses. Panellists will discuss how open source can boost innovation, efficiency, and collaboration across key European sectors by embedding greater value in the software that powers modern industries. They will delve on how the development and strategic use of open technologies – including open source software, hardware, standards and data – can pave the way forward for Europe’s competitiveness.

Sponsor Keynote: Jean-Philippe Balança

Chief International Operations Officer, Smile International

Panel: Standards and Market Access in a Regulated Software Market

How can the needs of free and open source projects and businesses be included in standards development? In the context of procedural standards being developed for the Cyber Resilience Act, AI Act, Data Act and the Interoperable Europe Act, the panellists will discuss how key players will work to implement their intention, obligation, or desire for these standards to be compatible with the development and business models of free and open source software.

Sponsor Keynote: Open Source Software - Europe’s Continuing Path to Global Leadership and Innovation

Gabriele Columbro

General Manager, Linux Foundation Europe & Executive Director, FINOS

Coffee break

Panel: The Future of Public Sector Collaboration Across Europe

Compared to other regions of the world, the public sector in Europe is at the forefront of open innovation. With new developments around public sector adoption of open source technologies and contribution to open source tools and communities in Europe, this session will showcase the future of public sector open source innovation in Europe. In particular, it will bring together technology experts and public sector leaders to discuss emerging trends, tools, and strategies that are shaping the next generation of open digital governance, and how it is being driven collaboratively by cities, regions, and countries. The discussion will prominently feature lessons learned from public sector institutions across Europe, highlighting how these insights can inform broader collaborative efforts between public administrations.

AI Panel Opening Statement: Stefano Maffulli

Executive Director, Open Source Initiative

AI Panel Opening Statement: Lucilla Sioli

Director, AI Office at DG CONNECT, European Commission

Panel: Open source AI - Europe's Opportunity

Artificial intelligence has been and continues to be a strategic priority for the EU, aiming to strengthen its role as a global digital leader. As we head forward in this new legislative cycle and with significant policy progress made with regard to AI, including establishment of the European AI Office and proposed definitions for open source AI, this session will examine the technical and policy intricacies of open source AI. The discussion will notably focus on the opportunities for Europe with regard to open source AI, delving into how open source AI can promote transparency and ethical governance while fostering innovation and maintaining European competitiveness.

Closing remarks

Cocktail Reception