Join the Free Software conversation at SFSCON 2025!
Under the watchful gaze of the Dolomites, and with the scent of chestnuts in the air, the city of Bolzano welcomes Free Software enthusiasts to the South Tyrol Free Software Conference. Held every November, this event brings together participants from Italy and beyond for two full days of learning, sharing, and discussing the latest in Free Software.
The South Tyrol Free Software Conference (SFSCON) is just around the corner, and our team cannot wait to join a full weekend of Free Software talks, workshops, side events, and fun! We have already checked the programme and it is full of interesting talks, with a track about health, engineering, cybersecurity…, all under the umbrella of this year’s main topic: Ethics.
One of the first talks of the 2025th edition will tackle a compelling ethical question at the intersection of health and technology: have you ever considered how much modern healthcare relies on proprietary products and infrastructure? Take, for example, a fundamental tool, the MRI used for disease detection, diagnosis, and treatment monitoring, and find out what the connection is to Free Software.
Ethical Need for Medical Devices as Commons by Martin Häuer from the Martin-Luther Universität (Halle)and a supporter of the FSFE - Friday 7 November, 11:00 h.
Of course next to all those amazing and inspiring talks our team will also be on stage! Below, you can find our scheduled sessions for Friday and Saturday. We will also be around throughout the event, eager to say hello, engage in inspiring discussions, answer your questions about our work, and learn more about your passion for Free Software. And do not forget to visit us at our booth, where you will find the latest FSFE hoodies, stickers, and much more!
Still wondering what to do in Bolzano? In addition to the talks and workshops, SFSCON is packed with pre-events and side events taking place throughout the conference. And of course, we cannot forget the European SFS Award 2025, which celebrates developers whose work has significantly advanced the accessibility and impact of Free Software in Europe. Last year, this recognition was awarded posthumously to Bram Moolenaar, creator of the widely used Vim text editor. Who will be this year’s winner?
The FSFE’s presence at SFSCON 2025
Day 1 (Friday 7 November 2025)
- 11:40 h. - Ethics
and software freedom (panel)
Panel discussion with Matthias Kirschner (Free Software Foundation Europe), Zoë Kooyman (Free Software Foundation), Simon Phipps (Open Source Initiative), and Karen Sandler (Software Freedom Conservancy) - 12:20 h. - Running
on Non-Free Software
Florian Snow will share his personal story of relying on medical devices whose software is proprietary and opaque, and frames the consequences when vital life-supporting systems aren’t under one’s control. The talk will clarify why software freedom in medicine is not just about transparency or policy, but about dignity, autonomy, and safety in contexts where code has real bodily consequences - 13.30 h. - Router
Freedom in Italy: latest development
The talk will present the latest development regarding router freedom in Italy. In particular, he will highlight the FSFE’s latest contribution to the consultation opened by Italy’s telecommunications regulator, AGCOM, regarding freedom of terminal equipment in fiber networks. - 14:40 h. - Why
Interoperability is Key for Software Freedom
As the EU enforces interoperability for fair competition under the Digital Markets Act (DMA), large tech gatekeepers are creating obstacles for developers. This talk will present the work of the FSFE to make sure the DMA is implemented and enforced in a developer-friendly way. We’ll look at what the DMA means for developers building alternative app stores, emulators, browsers, and other tools empowering user choice and freedom. - 15:00 h. - Fediverse:
Beyond text in the stream
An expedition into the Fediverse to discover uncharted services The Fediverse is a growing decentralized social network that began in 2008 and was initially dominated by text-based platforms like Mastodon and Friendica. This session explores the wider network beyond text, highlighting video, image, and creative platforms such as Peertube and Pixelfed, along with opportunities for podcasters, streamers, and 3D artists. For newcomers, the presentation from last year “about:Fediverse” offers an introduction to the concept. - 16:00 h. - Why
Free Software needs secured long-term funding
The presentation argues for a stable, long-term EU funding program dedicated to Free Software, highlighting that current initiatives like NGI are temporary and vulnerable to budget cuts. It will outline clear goals, necessary steps, and legislative proposals to ensure sustainable financial support for software freedom in Europe. - 16:20 h.- More
Lessons from the EU’s Next Generation Internet Initiatives
How the past year of upheaval has impacted perspectives of NGI participants This talk will speak about shifts in perspectives among Free Software developers within the NGI framework that the FSFE has observed in the past year, and the impacts these shifts have on the Free Software ecosystem. - 18:40 h. - Refund4Freedom:
Freedom to Choose, Right to a Refund
Refund4Freedom is the campaign by FSFE and the Italian Linux Society to defend the right to purchase computers without imposed software and to obtain a refund for unwanted pre-installed operating systems. In this talk, we will explain the key demands of the campaign, the legal references, and the first signs of change — such as the Lenovo case.
Before wrapping up for the day, don’t forget to stop by the FSFE booth! As tradition has it, we’ll be enjoying some pizza together to end the first day with great food and even better conversations.
Day 2 (Saturday 8 November 2025)
- 09:20 h. - FSFE
Italian Community Meeting
Annual Meeting of the FSFE Italian Community Join us for the annual gathering, our moment to celebrate the people who make our community alive, all of us who give our free time to carry forward the culture of Free Software. We’ll gather to share our stories, cheer for our achievements, and enjoy the joy of being together. - 10:00 h. - The
future is (also) female
Reflecting on the barriers for an inclusive future This workshop invites participants to explore how diverse and inclusive teams can shape an open, digital, and sovereign future in IT. It focuses on addressing the barriers faced by women and other under-represented groups, sharing experiences and strategies to foster inclusion, visibility, and recognition within the Free Software community. - 10:40 h.- Procurement
Update
How to use public tenders strategically to prevent openwashing while fostering Free Software This talk will highlight how public procurement can drive technological sovereignty in Europe through a “Free Software First” approach. It will address the risks of openwashing and unfair competition in tenders and proposes fair, effective criteria to ensure genuine Free Software development is supported. The session will also examine how upcoming EU procurement reforms can strengthen these goals under the “Public Money? Public Code!” principle. - 13:40 h. - I Love
Free Software Day
Embracing the power of a thank you This talk celebrates the importance of expressing ongoing gratitude to Free Software contributors, using “I Love Free Software Day” as a starting point. It will showcase past successes, share ideas for future celebrations, and emphasize the need to make appreciation a year-round effort through advocacy, contributions, and recognition. The goal is to foster a lasting culture of appreciation and support within the Free Software community.
From Ada workshop: readings, workshop and best practices: Ada is keeping busy in Italy! And SFSCON will be no exception! In addition to a reading session for children on 8 November, there will be a talk by an Italian volunteer on how to engage kids with Ada using a dedicated Moodle course and other available resources. The program will also include two coding workshops for children,one in Italian (09:30–12:00) and one in German (14:00–16:30), where kids can discover programming through play and creativity.
Whether you’re joining for the talks, workshops, or side events, we invite you to take part in the discussions, to stop at our booth and to, in general, participate in this festival! See you in Bolzano!