2026-06-29 –, A11
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.
Octavian is Lead EEU Product Partnerships at HERE Technologies in Romania, with background in GIS and geospatial data ecosystems. His work focuses on building partnerships around data, standards, and interoperability across the globe.
He is actively involved in the open geospatial community and is a strong advocate for open data, open‑source software, and collaborative geospatial infrastructures. Octavian is particularly interested in how FOSS4G technologies, INSPIRE‑aligned data, and community‑driven initiatives can support public value, transparency, and sustainable decision‑making. He regularly contributes to civic, educational, and community projects aimed at strengthening the community.