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.

Source: opensource.org