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.
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?
Support the FSFE work!
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)
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.
- 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.
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!
Support FSFE
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