We want to extend a massive thank you to everyone who joined us on 21st November for the 15th anniversary celebration of the European Commission’s Open Source Observatory (OSOR). Your presence and active involvement made the event, "OSOR Turns 15: From Pioneering to Mainstreaming Open Technologies in Public Services,” a great success.
For those of you that missed the event, don't miss the recording of the event here.
At the conference, we had a blast honouring the people who’ve been driving open source in Europe's public services. The OSOR Awards ceremony was a highlight, giving a well-deserved shout-out to amazing open source solutions and initiatives that have truly made a mark. Following our evaluation, we had 92 eligible entries, with 22 of them being shortlisted.
But after the jury's decision, our six finalists for these awards were:
Before the awards, participants had the chance to be part of a series of insightful discussions and proposals revolving around the pivotal role of open source in achieving the objectives outlined in the Interoperable Europe Act. Key points included Director-General for Digital Services Veronica Gaffey's anticipation for the next 15 years of the open source observatory. Participants also received Francesca Bria's recommendation to establish a substantial EU Digital Sovereignty Fund.
The High level panel put an emphasis on the importance of open source for achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the twin transition from the UN perspective. There, panellists also shared a call for global collaboration networks among OSPOs globally, highlighting the need for localised efforts with significant impacts. The other discussions also highlighted the necessity for tangible examples, concrete practices, and sustainability in open source solutions and businesses. Additionally, panellists stressed the need for long-term strategic funding for government engagement and the view of digital infrastructure as a resource requiring public support, aiming for more democratic control over technology and collaborative design processes from the outset.
In the panel titled “Collaboration on Open Source for an Interoperable Europe,” the discussions emphasised the need for practical examples to showcase the efficacy and practicality of open source solutions. Germany's Open Desk was acknowledged as a positive starting point, but there was an expressed interest in engaging other countries to assess their requirements for similar initiatives. Moreover, the panel outlined a vision for the future that includes a more comprehensive approach. This includes showcasing case studies to illustrate lessons learned, advocating for international and EU-level governance for open source collaboration, expanding the scope of open innovation beyond software and data, fostering public-private partnerships, and enhancing education and skills development related to open source technologies.
The subsequent panel, “National and Local Governments' Role in Open Source: Champions, Creators, or Funders?” highlighted the active engagement of governments in open source initiatives through the establishment of Open Source Program Offices (OSPOs) and notable projects like ZenDiS. There was a shared consensus among panellists regarding the necessity for sustained, strategic funding to support these initiatives. Additionally, the panel stressed the importance of considering digital infrastructure as a public resource akin to physical infrastructure, requiring extensive public support. Furthermore, there was an overarching call for greater democratic control over technology, advocating for collaboration within the design processes from their inception to ensure inclusivity and accountability in technological advancements.
Our three winners were put in the spotlight yesterday, with BlueHats winning the OSOR Community Vote. "To those who believe that it's impossible to put open source software at the heart of our public services' information systems, BlueHats are walking the walk. This prize goes to all those who don't yet know that their work is appreciated!" Bastien Guerry from Blue Hats.
We also announced the winners for best open source initiative and solutions in the European public sector:
GeoTrek was given the best open source initiative award. Congratulations to them for their work, you can learn more about it here. "When we started the Geotrek project 10 years ago, the innovative approach of open source was not always well understood. Over the years, it has proven itself and made it possible to build a community of more than 150 public organisations, pooling their resources to build and share a common tool. This award confirms the support of the European Commission for this type of approach, as well as its relevance and consistency with European values and public policies. It encourages us to continue our efforts, to extend it to other European countries, and to share our experience so that it can be useful to other projects and communities." Camille MONCHICOURT from Ecrins national park.
gvSIG Suite was given the best open source solution award. We also extend our congratulations to them for their hard work and great success. You can learn more about this solution here. "The award represents recognition of the achievements accomplished by the GVSIG Project and serves as a boost to attain new goals, continuing to work towards making Europe a benchmark in geomatics developed with open-source software." Alvaro Anguix and Francisco José Peñarrubia from gvSIG Suite.
We had some fantastic chats about open source policies, digital autonomy, and how it all lines up with Europe's digital agenda. These talks weren’t just interesting; they helped us figure out where open source in public services is headed. Since 2008, OSOR has been a hub for open source in public administrations across Europe, and it’s been an incredible journey watching it grow.
To everyone who helped make OSOR’s 15th anniversary a hit, a massive thank-you. Your passion for open source innovation is what keeps driving positive changes in Europe's public services. Let's keep collaborating, innovating, and sharing knowledge, making open source tech a game-changer for public services across Europe.