Where the FSFE Shapes the Future: SFSCON 2024!
We are excited to be back for the South Tyrol Free Software Conference (SFSCON) on 8 and 9 November with talks, workshops and a booth! SFSCON is the place to be if you’re passionate about Free Software and want to dive into discussions on key topics, including the need for sustainable, long-term funding for Free Software projects. Come to Bolzano to learn, connect, and be inspired!.
As one of Europe’s most established annual events on Free Software in Italy, SFSCON promotes the use of Free Software in digital infrastructure as a tool to achieve innovation and competitiveness. Taking place in November, the conference features a dynamic line-up of leading experts, workshops, and discussions to highlight current trends, challenges, and opportunities within the Free Software community.
SFSCON is also the place where the European SFS Award 2024 is presented. This recognition, from the FSFE and the Linux User Group Bozen-Bolzano-Bulsan, honours outstanding Free Software developers who have significantly advanced the spread and advocacy of Free Software across Europe. Last year the award went to Nextcloud founder Frank Karlitschek. Upon learning the name of this year’s recognition, our colleague Lucas Lasota will take the stage to deliver a keynote speech.
As in previous editions, the FSFE will also contribute with talks and workshops, including a session on our DMA litigation case and the pressing need for sustainable, long-term financial support. You can also stop by our booth to chat with us, pick up some promotional materials, browse our merchandise, or simply say hello! Explore the entire SFSCON 2024 Programme to discover all activities planned for this year’s edition. Join us at the NOI Techpark in Bolzano!
Diversity at SFSCON: Empowering Women in Tech and Sparking Kids’Coding Curiosity
Women
in tech: Let’s spark more Adas in our tech
world!
9 November, 09:40h. - Seminar 2
In this
workshop we will dive into the possibilities of encouraging women,
especially girls, to thinker and to code. We will explore ways to
promote diversity and gender equity in the Free Software community and
beyond. We encourage you to join us to share your experiences, ideas
and perspectives, and collaborate in creating a more inclusive and
Free registration is
required for this event!
Let’s
spark children’s interest in coding: Our
experiences and how you can contribute
8 November, 17:40h. - Seminar 2
How do we ensure that the next generation is
motivated and capable of shaping technology for society’s benefits? The
FSFE’s President Matthias Kirschner will present how we can spark
children’s and teenagers’ interest to tinker, experiment and program.
Furthermore you will see how fulfilling those activities can be for
yourself.
Ada & Zangemann: German
reading and Italian children workshop
The small ones
also have a place at SFSCON! On the morning of the first day, school
kids will enjoy the reading, in German, of the illustrated book 'Ada
& Zangemann: A Tale of Software, Skateboards, and Raspberry Ice
Cream'. This book inspire children's interest in tinkering and encourage
shaping technology.
The next day, on 9 November, there will be a
workshop in Italian for kids aged 7 to 10 t to tinker and code.
NGI: A successful EU initiative that shows the need for sustainable, long-term financial support for Free Software
Lessons
from the EU’s Next Generation Internet Initiatives: What We've Learnt
From Looking At 500 Free Software Projects
8 November,
14:00h. - Seminar 1
Lina Ceballos, our Policy Project Manager will
speak about some simple trends in Free Software legal and licensing that
we’ve observed over the years in independent Free Software projects and
their developers, and how these affect aspects of the Free Software
ecosystem.
NGI:
No more EU funding for Free Software?!
8 November,
14:40h. - Seminar 2
Later that same day, in the Seminar 2,
Alexander Sander, FSFE’s Senior Policy Consultant will show the urgent
need for sustainable, long-term financial support for Free Software to
ensure Europe’s technological independence. The decision to cut funding
resulted in a loss of €27 million for software freedom. Since 2018, the
European Commission has supported the Free Software ecosystem through
NGI, that provided funding and technical assistance to Free Software
projects. The ease with which this funding was excluded underlines this
need.
Policy and Software Freedom
CRA
& PLD Liability rules and Software Freedom
8
November, 11:40h.- Seminar 1
With the Cyber Resilience Act and
Product Liability Directive liability rules for software have been
introduced with a broad exception for Free Software. In this talk
Alexander Sander will discuss what this new regulation means for
software freedom in future and what happens at this stage and how to be
involved in implementation.
We
went to court against Apple – a case for Software
Freedom: Breaking lock-ins over devices with Free
Software
8 November, 12:40h. - Seminar 1
Lucas Lasota, FSFE’s Legal Programme Manager will
explain why FSFE’s litigation against Apple represents a key case for
Software Freedom. The talk will present how Device Neutrality – a
solution to enable end-users to bypass gatekeepers in order to run Free
Software independently of the control exercised by hardware
manufacturers is at stake.
Tackling
Openwashers, Freeloaders and Cuckoos: How to
safeguard the Free Software market against unfair
competition
8 November, 16:00h. - Seminar 1
Companies that produce and sell Free Software face a problem: some
competitors use problematic means to compete, making their products
cheaper and winning bids. This kind of market behaviour is increasingly
becoming a threat for Free Software producers. In this talk Johannes
Näder, Senior Project Manager, will take a closer look at such
problematic practices and show why they harm Free Software
manufacturers and the Free Software ecosystem., before discussing ways
to limit their success.
Diving into the Fediverse
Knitting
Our Internet workshop
9 November,
10:40h. - Seminar 2
Starting with the “Knitting Our Internet”
workshop, we will dive in into the history of the Internet, and how it
is a suitable place for collective re-imagination of participatory,
decentralized networks. The workshop questions the very essence of
today’s social media, exposing the critical limits posed by
centralization, monopoly, and surveillance.
about:Fediverse
11 November, 11:40h. - Seminar 2
In this talk, Tobias Diekershoff, FSFE’s System Administrator will
give a short introduction to the Fediverse of 2024 and how it started
to evolve in 2008. A network where users can share and interact with
each other regardless of the platform they use. What is possible in
the Fediverse of 2024 today? What will be possible in the future? And
how can you get started today?
Community Building
Let’s
share our love for Free Software: I love Free Software Day
2025
8 November,16:40h. - Seminar 2
We often
underestimate the power of a simple Thank You. Join Ana Galán, Senior
Project Manager, in this talk where she presents how Free Software
contributors do important work for our society. The “I Love Free
Software Day” on 14 February is the perfect opportunity for you to
express your special gratitude. Since 2010, we have celebrated this
wonderful annual event with an ever-growing and diverse community.
The
FSFE Italy Project from Understanding to Testing: How I
applied design-thinking to re-design the Italian Free Software
Community
8 November, 14:20h.- Seminar 2
The role
of Deputy Coordinator Italy within the Free Software Foundation Europe
(FSFE) was born in 2022 out of the need of re-establishing the presence
of the Foundation on the territory. The project followed a human
centric approach, moving along the five core stages of design-thinking.
The goal of Marta Andreoli,from the FSFE, is to describe the FSFE Italy
project and the design-thinking approach adopted.
Best
examples of Open Communities
8 November, 17:20h.-
Crane Hall
In this BOF (Birds of a Feather) meeting, we will
discuss strategies for fostering community growth and enhancing member
involvement. We will explore optimal settings and practices that support
sustainable community development. Participants are encouraged to share
their experiences and insights, providing an opportunity to learn from
one another and collaborate on best practices.
Italian
Community Meeting: voices of Free Software: connect,
learn, inspire!
9 November, 10:20h.- Seminar 3
You
are invited to join the volunteers, supporters, and friends of the
Italian FSFE Community!
Join us to learn from one another,
find inspiration, and tackle future challenges together in the realm of
Free Software. As a volunteer, you have a platform to share your story,
discuss the most pressing topics surrounding Free Software, and connect
with fellow enthusiasts. We encourage you to collaborate with the
community on common initiatives and work together to forge new paths
forward.
That’s Not All Folks!
During these two days, feel free to visit our booth to grab some free
stickers, learn more about our campaigns and initiatives, or just stop
by to say hello! Our team will be there greeting you and explaining, in
different EU languages, more about our initiatives!
In
addition, our partnership with the ITS Academy Last and the Edulife
Foundation will continue, so we will meet a second year of ITS students
during SFSCON: we will welcome them in an official meeting and give them
some recommendations for talks to attend so they can make the most out
of it.
See all of you at SFSCON!