Before we get into this month's stories, we'd like to announce OSOR's 4 May webinar on Policy & Strategy Aspects of OSS in Public Administration. Registration is open to the public. The OSOR Team will present the report of our first workshop on the difficulties encountered, and some solutions, when a public administration decides to use open source software. We would also invite you to share the above link with individuals and groups with an interest in this topic.
We also published an updated report on the state of open source in Czechia. The report shows the latest advancements of the ambitious reorganisation of the country's digitalisation program. It also features new local initiatives and a reassessment of the current landscape of open source communities in the country. Stay tuned as we will continue updating reports in the coming months!
Our first news item is from Thuringia, in Germany. Having set up their open source award in 2019, and writing a preference for open source software into the Thuringian Public Procurement Act that same year, this region of Germany has now also worked with the company OpenTalk to use their video conferencing tool of the same name. The OpenTalk software is licensed under the EUPL and is available on the opencode.de portal.
The open source work of Estonia's government is once again attracting attention. After the Australian government identified problems in their own digital strategy, they sent a delegation to Estonia, Denmark and Belgium. After a further visit by an Australian delegation to Estonia, the Australian Minister for Government Services has praised Estonia's work and has announced new plans for digital services in Australia.
Japan wouldn't usually be classified as "small", but this time we have news from the regional level where the Decidim participatory democracy platform is being used in multiple cities and prefectures. Most interestingly, it is being supported by a community, formed by Code for Japan, with over 90 local groups across the country.
Meanwhile, the South Savo region of Finland, with a population of 142,000, has decided to help local businesses to adopt open source software, and to work together with government bodies on open source software. The first step is a study of the needs of local industry, followed a bit later by the setting up of a competence centre.
Our last story, a little different, is about CERN's recent lecture series on open source. CERN's participation in open source development goes back a long way. Most famously, it was CERN that put tools online in 1991 for a "universal linked information system", which we today call the World Wide Web. CERN's recent lectures are available online and cover topics including open science, intellectual property, research, and economy.
There are many positive signs for open source software. But there are also many challenges remaining. OSOR's 2023 series of webinars will map the challenges and collect the many solutions so that new initiatives can learn from those who've been working with open source already for years or decades. We very much hope to see you on 4 May.
The OSOR Team
Follow 
Join the 