6 MIN READ
Linux Foundation Europe | 13 October 2025
As Europe continues to strengthen its leadership in open source innovation, this October brings together three important events shaping the future of open collaboration across the continent. From Ghent to Brussels, open source leaders, policymakers, and developers will gather to discuss strategy, sovereignty, and security at the Linux Foundation Europe Member Summit (October 28), the LF Europe Roadshow (October 29), and the European Open Source Security Forum (October 30).
Together, these events create a powerful synergy linking strategy, policy, and practice across an evolving digital landscape where open source is the foundation of Europe’s technological autonomy.
LF Europe Member Summit – Ghent, 28 October 2025
The week begins in Ghent with the annual Linux Foundation Europe Member Summit, an exclusive gathering for LF Europe members and invited leaders from industry and government.
The Summit is more than a meeting; it's a strategic platform where Europe’s open source ecosystem aligns its priorities around collaboration, policy, and shared innovation.
Highlights & Key Sessions:
- Opening remarks by Gabriele Columbro, Executive Director of FINOS and General Manager of LF Europe, will set the stage for cross-sector collaboration and open innovation.
- In Conversation: Thomas Dohmke, former GitHub CEO, joins Gabriele Columbro to explore the future of open innovation in Europe.
- Panel Discussion: “Open Source Enabling Industrial Innovation” brings together industry voices to discuss how open collaboration drives modernization across automotive, finance, and energy sectors.
- Digital Sovereignty Track: Talks like “The Tension Between Technological Autonomy and Open Collaboration” (Sachiko Muto, RISE/OFE) and “Closing the Backdoor: Digital Sovereignty for EU & Public Authorities” (Sebastian Raible, APELL) dive into Europe’s quest for control over its digital destiny.
- Closing remarks from Mirko Boehm and Gabriele Columbro will highlight Linux Foundation Europe’s evolving policies, strategic initiatives, and community priorities for the year ahead.
Check the full schedule here
LF Europe Roadshow – Ghent, 29 October 2025
The conversation continues the following day with the LF Europe Roadshow, an open event welcoming developers, policymakers, and community leaders. Built around two parallel tracks, this day focuses on how Europe’s open source ecosystem can thrive in a rapidly evolving regulatory and security environment.
Track One: Cybersecurity and the CRA
Led by the Open Source Security Foundation (OpenSSF), this track breaks down the Cyber Resilience Act (CRA), a key piece of EU legislation into practical insights for developers and maintainers.
- Greg Kroah-Hartman (Linux Kernel Maintainer) explains “What the CRA Means for Developers & Open Source Stewards.”
- The CRA Working Session for Manufacturers and Stewards, hosted by experts from Arm, Samsung, and the Confidential Computing Consortium, offers hands-on collaboration on compliance and readiness.
- Christopher “CRob” Robinson (OpenSSF) explores “Cybersecurity Strategy in the Face of Global Digital Regulation”, connecting global policy with open source resilience.
Track Two: Open Collaboration & Digital Sovereignty
- Project updates from LF Europe initiatives such as NeoNephos, Sylva, RISC-V, and OpenInfra, showcasing the breadth of open collaboration in Europe.
- Ben Burtenshaw (Hugging Face) will present “Tortoise in the AI Race,” a talk about making open source AI that’s ethical and sustainable.
- The Panel on Funding Open Source: Digital Commons and Open Source, moderated by Hilary Carter (LF Research), addresses how Europe can sustain the digital commons through better funding models.
- The day closes with a high-level panel on Digital Sovereignty, featuring MEP Alexandra Geese, Jutta Horstmann (Heinlein Group, former CEO of ZenDiS), and Gabriele Columbro (General Manager, Linux Foundation Europe), discussing Europe’s commitment to balancing autonomy with global collaboration.
Check the full schedule here
By framing regulation not as a barrier but as an enabler, the LF Europe Roadshow demonstrates how open source communities can shape the policies that shape them building a stronger, more resilient Europe.
European Open Source Security Forum – Brussels, 30 October 2025
The week concludes in Brussels with the European Open Source Security Forum, co-hosted by OpenSSF and the Centre for European Policy Studies (CEPS). This invite-only event brings together policymakers, researchers, and open source security experts to tackle one of the most critical challenges of our time: securing the software that powers our world.
Key Highlights:
- Opening keynotes from Raluca Stefanuc (European Commission), Piotr Ciepiela (Ernst & Young) will explore the policy and industry perspectives shaping the future of open source in Europe.
- Madalin Neag (OpenSSF) presents on “NIS2 + CRA”, highlighting the convergence of regulatory frameworks shaping open source compliance.
- The Panel on Open Source and Quantum Security, featuring Lorenzo Pupillo, Fabiana Da Pieve, Matt Caswell, and Bart Preneel, explores how emerging technologies redefine cybersecurity.
- Felix Reda (GitHub) talk on “Investing in Our Open Source Infrastructure: The Case for an EU Sovereign Tech Fund”, urging Europe to build and maintain its critical digital foundations.
- The closing panel, “No Regulation Without Education”, featuring Hilary Carter, Michaela Klopstra, Georg Kunz and Christopher Robinson, addresses the urgent global cyber skills gap.
Check the full schedule here
The Forum is a bridge between policy and practice. By connecting government, industry, and open source communities, it ensures that Europe’s cybersecurity policies are grounded in real-world collaboration and that open source continues to thrive as a cornerstone of digital trust.
Why This Week Matters
This trio of events represents more than just a conference circuit. It’s a clear signal that Europe is uniting around open collaboration as a strategic advantage. From policy discussions to project showcases and security frameworks, these gatherings align industry and government around a shared vision:
- Digital Sovereignty: Empowering Europe to lead in open, trusted technologies.
- Cyber Resilience: Turning regulation into opportunity and ensuring security through collaboration.
- Sustainable Innovation: Building and funding the digital commons that power modern society.
As open source continues to shape every sector from AI to automotive to finance, these discussions are defining how Europe can lead with openness, trust, and shared purpose, while being deeply intertwined and active in the global collaboration landscape.
Join the Conversation:
- Register for the LF Europe Member Summit
- Attend the LF Europe Roadshow
- Register for the European Open Source Security Forum