This event focused on how to realise the potential of OSS in public services. Participants delved into this transformative power through interactive workshops, discussing ways to boost international cooperation.
The event began with a keynote speech delivered by Astor Nummelin Carlberg, Executive Director of OpenForum Europe, providing insights into the nature of strategic open source policy and how to approach the formulation of national open source goals. It was followed by an address from Jacco Brouwer of VNG Realisatie and Jacob Green of OSPO++. A series of workshops introduced participants to the concepts of OSPO++, the EU OSPO network, and BlueHats Global.
Jacco Brouwer of VNG Realisatie, expanding on the workshop and its next steps, stated that “the afternoon workshop focused on taking the first step in creating a unified understanding on which barriers we need to bring down. All input is going to be used in forming a 'Strategic Manifesto for successful and sustainable collaboration on OSS in the Public Sector'. The Manifesto will serve as a best practice and will serve as a call to action for policymakers to optimise the field. This is needed for successful and sustainable collaboration on OSS in the Public Sector.”
The Dutch OSPO Knowledge Network, an initiative of the Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations, the Tax and Customs Administration, Kadaster, Liander, the Municipality of Amsterdam, the Province of South Holland, and VNG Realisatie, is designed to share knowledge and experiences about open working, open standards, and open source among public organisations. It aims to foster a robust OSS ecosystem where public organisations need not reinvent the wheel when starting an OSPO.
In Brouwer’s words, “the Dutch OSPO Knowledge Network is bridging the gap between strategic policies and the practical barriers that we need to bring down to make way for sustainable and successful collaboration on OSS in the public sector. In essence, it's all about collaboration and the governance structures we use to facilitate these collaborations.”
The network encourages those working at a (public) OSPO to share their experiences and contribute to the shared knowledge pool. The event served as a testament to the power of OSS and the OSPO model, promising a future where public services are more accessible, efficient, and citizen-friendly.
Photo by Alireza Parpaei on Unsplash