Be part of a global conversation on the future of openness at the OpenForum Academy (OFA) Symposium 2025, taking place November 18–19 at the FGV Law School in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Through expert panels, case studies, and collaborative discussions, the Symposium will consider the transformative potential of openness in uncertain times.
The Open Source Initiative (OSI) is joining forces with fellow content partners Open Knowledge Foundation (OKF) and the Digital Public Goods Alliance (DPGA) to support this vital international event that brings together leaders from academia, industry, government, and civil society to explore the societal, economic, and political impact of open technologies in today’s complex world.
“The OFA Symposium is a unique event that brings together voices across academia, industry, and civil society. We’re honored to support it as a Content Partner, helping to foster the cross-sector dialogue essential to unlocking the full potential of openness for the public good.” – Nick Vidal, OSI Community Manager
“The partnership with these three esteemed organizations reflects our commitment to bringing diverse perspectives and expertise to the symposium. Their contributions will ensure rigorous, forward-thinking discussions that can inform policy and practice in the Open Source and open technology space.” – Astor Nummelin Carlberg, OpenForum Europe Executive Director
Why this event matters
The theme for this year—“Open Technology Impact in Uncertain Times”—could not be more timely. In an age marked by rapid technological change, geopolitical turbulence, and growing demands for digital sovereignty and transparency, open technologies offer a powerful alternative: one grounded in collaboration, shared knowledge, and public value.
Yet, despite their significance, Open Source software, standards, and data remain underappreciated—and under-researched. The OFA Symposium 2025 addresses this gap head-on, building a stronger evidence base for why openness matters and how it shapes markets, policy, innovation, and governance.
Key tracks
The event features four key tracks that reflect today’s most pressing challenges:
Track 1: Economic Impact of Open
- Economic Impact of Open Source
- Open Technologies and Innovation
- Open Technology and Entrepreneurship
- Open Source and Supply Chains
- Industrial Adoption of Open Source
- Digital Industrial Policy
Track 2: Open Technologies and Geopolitics
- Political and Social Impacts
- Open Technology and Digital Sovereignty
- Politics of Digital Public Infrastructure
- Global Governance of Open Source
- Governments and Open Technology
- Copyright and Trade Disputes
Track 3: Sustainability and Security
- Maintaining Open Source
- Open Source Cybersecurity
- Sustaining Open Technologies as Digital Commons
- Open Technologies as Infrastructure
- Open Hardware and Chips
Track 4: Open Source and AI
- Open Source AI Definition
- Open Data and Open Weights
- Data Diversity for AI Training
- Value/Economics of Open Source and AI
- Global and Local Governance of AI
Get involved
The Call for Proposals is open until June 1, 2025, and welcomes contributions across research, ongoing studies, and topical presentations. Whether you’re an academic, policy expert, developer, or open tech advocate, this is a unique opportunity to share your insights and collaborate with an international community dedicated to advancing openness. Submit your proposal or learn more at symposium.openforumeurope.org
Timeline:
- 31 March 2025: Release of the Call for Proposals
- 1 June 2025: Closing deadline of the Call for Proposals
- June 2025: Review of proposals by the Programme Committee
- By 25 June 2025: Program finalization and speaker notification
- By End of June: Program announcement
- 18-19 November 2025: Symposium
We hope to see many of you in Rio—helping to shape the future of open technologies in impactful, inclusive, and global ways. Stay tuned for more updates and follow the conversation on social media using #OFASymposium2025.
