EU Open Source Policy Summit 2025 to Define Europe’s Digital Future

Brussels, Belgium: A pivotal moment in European digital policymaking is set to unfold as the EU Open Source Policy Summit 2025 convenes on January 31 from 9:00 to 18:00 CET. Touted as Europe’s premier forum for high-level open-source policy discussions, the summit will host more than 40 speakers—including policymakers, tech leaders, and academics—while offering both an on-site program in Brussels and a free online option.

With a new EU administration in office, the summit aims to align legislation with the rapidly evolving open-source ecosystem. Twelve major focus areas—ranging from the EU Digital Strategy, open source in the manufacturing industry, and international governance to emerging trends in artificial intelligence, software liability, digital commons, and the future of regulated industries—will shape the daylong agenda. Sessions will spotlight how open-source collaboration can strengthen Europe’s digital sovereignty and underscore the region’s commitment to fostering an innovative, globally competitive tech environment.

At the heart of the program is the question, “What can open source do for Europe?” Keynotes and panels will explore the EU Digital Strategy, the role of open-source in the manufacturing industry, international governance, economic and social value, and how open-source solutions fit into regulated markets. AI will take center stage in discussions on transparency, ethical governance, and maintaining European competitiveness, particularly following recent legislative proposals such as the AI Act and the Cyber Resilience Act. Attendees can also expect in-depth sessions on software liability, digital commons, public-sector collaboration, and EU funding mechanisms under Digital Europe and Horizon. The event boasts a distinguished roster of speakers, including policymakers from the European Parliament and Commission, open-source project leaders, and senior executives from major technology foundations and companies.

Six keynote speakers will headline the event. Valeriya Ionan, Deputy Minister for Eurointegration, Ministry of Digital Transformation of Ukraine, Jean-Philippe Balança, Chief International Operations Officer, Smile International, Gabriele Columbro, General Manager of Linux Foundation Europe, Máirín Duffy, Head of InstructLab engineering at Red Hat, Felix Reda, Director of Developer Policy at GitHub, and Markus Rettstatt, Head of the CAR Software Unit, Mercedes-Benz Tech Innovation are set to share their insights on topics spanning AI ethics and transparency, sustainable open-source funding, and the regulatory landscape. They will be joined by high-profile figures such as Mitchell Baker, Chairwoman of the Mozilla Foundation, and Dr. Sachiko Muto, Chair of OpenForum Europe and a Board Director of the Drupal Association.

Organized by OpenForum Europe, the summit follows last year’s overwhelming demand, which far exceeded capacity. This year’s venue has been expanded, yet it remains invite-only for in-person attendees to encourage deep engagement and substantive dialogue. The program’s collective goal is clear: to harness open-source’s proven power—contributing over €8 trillion to the global economy—and position Europe as a leader in digital innovation and regulation. Interested participants can register for the online component or sign up for the on-site waiting list at the official EU Open SourcePolicy Summit 2025 website.