On 18 April, 2023, OpenForum Europe, the Swedish Internet Foundation, NOSAD (Network Open Source and Data), Open Source Sweden, Red Hat and the Foundation for Public Code are hosting a one-day conference in Stockholm, Sweden. Following our EU presidency events in Toulouse, France, and Brno, Czech Republic, we are now bringing together European actors in the Nordic capital to continue the discussion of the role of open technologies in shaping our shared digital future.
At the European level, the discussions of open source as a tool to tackle our shared digital challenges have matured. There is broad agreement that the relevance goes beyond cost-savings for the public sector. Today, open source plays a central role in strategies for increased sovereignty, competitiveness and innovation.
The day will be divided up into three thematic blocks: Cybersecurity, Community and Procurement. Particular attention will be given to key EU legislative developments such as the Interoperable Europe Act and the Cyber Resilience Act. In parallel with public sector developments, strategies to further grow the open source industry to meet the steep increase in demand will be a focal point.
10:00 - 10:25 - Keynotes
10:25 - 10:35 - Introduction and Presentation of the Agenda
10:35 - 11:35 - Cybersecurity: Understanding the Role of Open Source in Society
Cybersecurity is a top priority for politicians and businesses globally. Open source’s major role in digitisation, being the majority of software in existence, has increased attention. The increase in supply chain attacks have also elevated the discussion to the highest political level. Europe needs to join forces to build and maintain safe solutions. During this panel, ongoing initiatives are presented and the panel discusses how open source strengthens cybersecurity.
11:35 - 12:00 - Break
12:00 - 12:45 - Open Source Communities and Enablement
What is needed for public administrations and private actors to collaborate on joint open source projects? The panel will discuss the need for new skills, OSPOs and other types of networks and Communities to create conditions for a growing collaboration
12:45 - 14:00 - Lunch
14:00 - 15:00 - Open Source Procurement
Open source procurement is the original open source policy question. Things are very different today than 15 years ago, however. The open source industry of Europe is brimming with activity to meet the demand from the public sector, and at the same time the public sector are rapidly increasing their ambition level with open source products, solutions and services. What new skills are needed in the public sector? How can we increase the capacity of the European OSS industry? How can we ensure that legacy laws and frameworks are updated to enable rather than hinder this opportunity?
15:00 - 15:45 - Open Source in the Europe's Policy Efforts
At the same time as open technologies in general and open source specifically play a large part in the European Commission’s and Member States’ plans of achieving its digital policy goals, there are risks of unintended consequences from a number of legislative files. This panel will take on the challenge to paint the broader picture, connecting policy and legislative efforts such as:
The Interoperable Europe Act
The European Public Sector OSPO Networks
Cybersecurity Resilience act
New Product Liability Directive
The AI Act
EUs Data Act
Horizon Europe funding
15:45 - 16:00 - Break
16:00 - 17:30 - Topical Breakout Groups
