[[en/FOSDEM 2025|[en]]] [[de/FOSDEM 2025|[de]]] [[es/FOSDEM 2025|[es]]] [[fr/FOSDEM 2025|[fr]]] [[it/FOSDEM 2025|[it]]] # FOSDEM 2025 Open Source, Sustainability, and Eco-Social Transformation > [!Transparency Info]- > This website is an experiment: it was generated automatically. All content is based on a number of events listed here: https://fosdem.org/2025/schedule/events/ > Available sources (audio/video/images/text) were extracted from the content and links of these sessions, transcribed, summarized, and retold in an eco-social context using [[fosdem 2025/templates/Event_eco_social_en|templates]]. LLM models from Open AI were used. For more information, visit https://www.bcommonsLab.orgat is the event about? > ![[AtFosdem.mp4]] ![[FOSDEM_2025_Opening_Talk_from_the_speaker_perspective.jpg]] Source: Wikipedia FOSDEM 2025 is a major international event that brings together open source developers, designers, policymakers, educators, and activists to explore the latest developments in technology and their significance for society and the environment. The conference covers a wide range of topics, including open source software and hardware, digital infrastructure, documentation, decentralized social platforms, sustainable energy, digital sovereignty, funding models, education, and community building. Sessions are organized into thematic tracks that delve into both technical and social aspects—such as privacy, accessibility, collaborative governance, ethical AI, and the circular economy. The event emphasizes how open source and collaborative approaches can help address pressing challenges like climate change, digital exclusion, and the need for resilient, transparent, and equitable digital systems. By making complex technical topics understandable and highlighting their real-world impact, FOSDEM 2025 empowers participants from all backgrounds to contribute to a more just, sustainable, and participatory digital future. Whether through hands-on workshops, policy debates, or technical deep-dives, the event demonstrates that technology can be a powerful lever for positive eco-social transformation when guided by shared values and inclusive practices. ## Tracks ### Community & Governance [Keynotes 13](fosdem%202025/en/Keynotes%2013/_Keynotes%2013.md) Closing session reflecting on FOSDEM's collaborative spirit, volunteerism, and sustainable event practices. [Community 17](fosdem%202025/en/Community%2017/_Community%2017.md) Focuses on building inclusive, resilient open source communities, digital public goods, mentorship, and governance. [Main Track Janson 7](fosdem%202025/en/Main%20Track%20Janson%207/_Main%20Track%20Janson%207.md) Explores sustainable open source transformation, community governance, and resilient digital infrastructures. [Funding the FOSS Ecosystem 12](fosdem%202025/en/Funding%20the%20FOSS%20Ecosystem%2012/_Funding%20the%20FOSS%20Ecosystem%2012.md) Examines sustainable funding models, ethical dilemmas, and the social fabric of open source projects. [Lightning Talks 38](fosdem%202025/en/Lightning%20Talks%2038/_Lightning%20Talks%2038.md) Practical insights on infrastructure, event management, and community-driven innovation for sustainability. ### Digital Infrastructure, Security & Sovereignty [Main Track K Building 18](fosdem%202025/en/Main%20Track%20K%20Building%2018/_Main%20Track%20K%20Building%2018.md) Covers open source, AI, security, sustainable infrastructure, and digital commons. [Open Source In The European Legislative Landscape](fosdem%202025/en/Open%20Source%20In%20The%20European%20Legislative%20Landscape/_Open%20Source%20In%20The%20European%20Legislative%20Landscape.md) Discusses the role of open source in EU legislation, digital sovereignty, and digital commons. [Government Collaboration 11](fosdem%202025/en/Government%20Collaboration%2011/_Government%20Collaboration%2011.md) Explores public sector adoption of open source, sovereign clouds, and participatory governance. [Confidential Computing 11](fosdem%202025/en/Confidential%20Computing%2011/_Confidential%20Computing%2011.md) Focuses on secure data processing, privacy, and open standards for trustworthy digital systems. [Modern Email 18](fosdem%202025/en/Modern%20Email%2018/_Modern%20Email%2018.md) Latest developments in email security, privacy, decentralization, and accessibility. ### Sustainable Technology, Energy & Hardware [Energy Accelerating the Transition through Open So](fosdem%202025/en/Energy%20Accelerating%20the%20Transition%20through%20Open%20So/_Energy%20Accelerating%20the%20Transition%20through%20Open%20So.md) Open source innovations for the energy transition, smart grids, renewables, and emissions tracking. [Embedded Mobile and Automotive 19](fosdem%202025/en/Embedded%20Mobile%20and%20Automotive%2019/_Embedded%20Mobile%20and%20Automotive%2019.md) Open source in embedded systems, hardware reuse, secure IoT, and sustainable mobility. [FOSS on Mobile Devices 11](fosdem%202025/en/FOSS%20on%20Mobile%20Devices%2011/_FOSS%20on%20Mobile%20Devices%2011.md) Linux-based mobile innovation, privacy, device longevity, and ethical alternatives to proprietary platforms. [Rust 12](fosdem%202025/en/Rust%2012/_Rust%2012.md) Rust language applications for secure, efficient, and sustainable system development. [Open Media 12](fosdem%202025/en/Open%20Media%2012/_Open%20Media%2012.md) Sustainable multimedia frameworks, open hardware, accessibility, and creative digital upcycling. ### Collaboration, Content, and Knowledge Management [Collaboration and Content Management 19](fosdem%202025/en/Collaboration%20and%20Content%20Management%2019/_Collaboration%20and%20Content%20Management%2019.md) Open source tools for collaboration, privacy, decentralized content management, and ethical AI. [Tool the Docs 8](fosdem%202025/en/Tool%20the%20Docs%208/_Tool%20the%20Docs%208.md) Innovative documentation tools, accessibility, automation, and participatory knowledge sharing. [APIs GraphQL OpenAPI AsyncAPI and friends 7](fosdem%202025/en/APIs%20GraphQL%20OpenAPI%20AsyncAPI%20and%20friends%207/_APIs%20GraphQL%20OpenAPI%20AsyncAPI%20and%20friends%207.md) Open API standards, documentation, intelligent APIs, and sustainable digital infrastructure. [LibreOffice 21](fosdem%202025/en/LibreOffice%2021/_LibreOffice%2021.md) Open source office innovation, accessibility, digital sovereignty, and collaborative editing. [Open Research 22](fosdem%202025/en/Open%20Research%2022/_Open%20Research%2022.md) Open research, reproducibility, ethical frameworks, and collaborative knowledge infrastructures. ### Social Platforms, Education, and Youth Empowerment [Social Web 12](fosdem%202025/en/Social%20Web%2012/_Social%20Web%2012.md) Decentralized social media, privacy, fediverse, and community-driven digital ecosystems. [Educational 14](fosdem%202025/en/Educational%2014/_Educational%2014.md) Open source education, digital literacy, inclusion, and creative learning tools. [FOSDEM Junior 18](fosdem%202025/en/FOSDEM%20Junior%2018/_FOSDEM%20Junior%2018.md) Workshops and hands-on sessions for youth, focusing on coding, creativity, and eco-social empowerment. ## Significance for an eco-social transformation FOSDEM 2025 demonstrates how open source and collaborative digital innovation can be harnessed to advance sustainability, social justice, and community empowerment. By foregrounding transparency, inclusivity, and digital sovereignty, the event shows that technology is not just a technical issue but also an ethical, social, and ecological one. Tracks on digital commons, participatory governance, and open standards highlight how communities can regain control over their digital infrastructure, reduce dependency on monopolistic platforms, and ensure that technological progress serves the public good. The focus on sustainable hardware, energy transition, and device longevity addresses ecological challenges by promoting repair, reuse, and circular economy principles—reducing electronic waste and resource consumption. Open source approaches in education and research democratize access to knowledge, foster critical thinking, and empower marginalized groups, contributing to more equitable societies. Sessions on privacy, security, and ethical AI ensure that digital systems protect individual rights and community interests, supporting trust and resilience in the face of growing digital risks. By integrating creative, interdisciplinary approaches—such as open media, art, and youth coding workshops—the event nurtures a culture of experimentation and collective problem-solving. Overall, FOSDEM 2025 offers a blueprint for aligning digital transformation with eco-social values, enabling diverse actors to co-create a just and sustainable digital future. ## Possible applications 1. **Decentralized Communication for Community Networks**: Use Matrix for secure, inclusive, and self-governed digital collaboration ([The Road to Mainstream Matrix](The%20Road%20to%20Mainstream%20Matrix.md)). 2. **Open Hardware for Sustainable Events**: Replicate FOSDEM's open-source video streaming and capture hardware to create transparent, low-waste event infrastructures ([fosdem videobox 2025](fosdem%20videobox%202025.md)). 3. **Participatory Democracy Platforms**: Deploy Decidim to empower citizen engagement, participatory budgeting, and transparent policymaking ([How a City Platform Became a Global Community](How%20a%20City%20Platform%20Became%20a%20Global%20Community.md)). 4. **Energy Transition Tools**: Implement open source EV charging solutions, grid simulation, and emissions tracking to support local energy communities and climate action ([Unleashing Bidirectional Charging Protocols Challe](Unleashing%20Bidirectional%20Charging%20Protocols%20Challe.md)). 5. **Accessible, Collaborative Office Suites**: Use LibreOffice and Collabora Online for privacy-respecting, cross-platform document editing and automation in community or government contexts ([COOL LibreOffice Technology in the browser](COOL%20LibreOffice%20Technology%20in%20the%20browser.md)). 6. **Open Research and Data Commons**: Adopt tools like Guix, Software Heritage, and Wikirate for reproducible research, code archiving, and corporate accountability in sustainability projects ([Guix Software Heritage Source Code Archiving to th](Guix%20Software%20Heritage%20Source%20Code%20Archiving%20to%20Re.md)). 7. **Youth Empowerment through Creative Coding**: Integrate MicroBlocks, Snap!, and TurtleStitch into educational programs to foster digital literacy, creativity, and eco-social awareness among young people ([Program a Tiny Computer](Program%20a%20Tiny%20Computer.md)). ## Challenges & open questions Across FOSDEM 2025 tracks, several challenges and open questions were raised: - **Technical Barriers**: Integrating open source tools with legacy systems, ensuring full hardware support, and achieving interoperability across diverse platforms remain complex tasks. Many solutions require advanced technical skills, limiting accessibility for non-experts and marginalized groups. - **Sustainability and Funding**: Many projects struggle with long-term financial sustainability, volunteer burnout, and the challenge of securing equitable compensation and recognition for contributors, especially non-code roles. - **Ethical and Social Issues**: Balancing openness with privacy and security, especially in sensitive domains like health or public administration, is an ongoing concern. Responsible use of AI, prevention of bias, and ensuring user control are critical topics needing further research and governance. - **Inclusion and Diversity**: Persistent barriers remain for underrepresented groups in tech. More work is needed to foster inclusive cultures, mentorship, and accessible design in open source communities and tools. - **Policy and Regulatory Hurdles**: Legal compliance, standardization, and regulatory uncertainty—especially in the EU context—can slow adoption and innovation. Advocacy is needed to align policy frameworks with open, participatory digital models. - **Education and Awareness**: There is a need for broader digital literacy, open source awareness, and support for educators and facilitators to scale inclusive, creative, and sustainable technology education. - **Ecological Impact**: Measuring and reducing the environmental footprint of digital infrastructure, hardware, and events remains a challenge, requiring ongoing innovation in energy efficiency, circular design, and policy support. Overall, FOSDEM 2025 highlights the need for continued interdisciplinary research, community collaboration, and policy engagement to realize the full eco-social potential of open source and digital innovation.