Open source and open geospatial data deliver clear technical benefits, yet their real impact is often difficult to communicate to public sector decision makers and governance stakeholders. Metrics familiar to the FOSS4G community-adoption, repositories, contributors-rarely align with how impact is assessed in policy, funding, or institutional contexts.
This talk explores how open source impact can be framed in ways that resonate with public authorities and policymakers. Using examples from European open geospatial initiatives, it highlights how open source contributes to transparency, resilience, interoperability, cost efficiency, and long term public value-and how these outcomes can be communicated beyond technical audiences.
The session offers a practical framing approach to help practitioners translate open source principles into outcomes that support informed decisions and sustainable public investment.
Audience level: Beginner to intermediate
Key takeaway: Open source impact is about outcomes and trust-not just technology.

Across Europe, open geospatial data is increasingly published through INSPIRE aligned infrastructures, National Access Points (NAPs), and national open data portals. While access has improved significantly, licensing has become one of the most common sources of friction and risk when data is reused across borders, institutions, and use cases.
This talk focuses on practical licensing challenges encountered in real European projects. It examines common pitfalls such as mixing share alike and permissive licenses, using non commercial data in public private or downstream contexts, and dealing with national constraints related to redistribution or export control. Particular attention is given to differences in licensing approaches across INSPIRE datasets and NAPs, and how these differences impact interoperability and reuse.
Rather than legal theory, the session presents a hands on framework to help practitioners recognize high risk patterns early and design data workflows that remain compliant as datasets evolve.
Audience level: Beginner to intermediate
Key takeaway: In Europe’s open data ecosystem, licensing is a technical constraint—and should be treated as part of system design, not an afterthought.

Open geospatial ecosystems increasingly depend on collaboration between open source communities, universities, and private companies. While these actors often share common goals, building partnerships that last beyond short term funding or sponsorship remains a practical challenge.
This talk explores sustainable collaboration models that balance openness with real world constraints such as institutional timelines, commercial objectives, and governance structures. Drawing on European examples, it highlights what enables long term cooperation: clear roles, shared governance, open contribution pathways, and mutual value creation across research, education, and industry.
The session offers a practical perspective on designing collaborations that strengthen the FOSS4G ecosystem without compromising independence or open principles.
Audience level: Beginner to intermediate
Key takeaway: Sustainable open–enterprise collaboration is built on trust, clarity, and shared long term value.