Exchange ESOP & Open Source Sweden

ESOP organized an Associates' Meeting with its counterpart from Sweden, Open Source Sweden, on the 24th of February.

The meeting was attended by members of ESOP Ângulo Sólido, Caixa Mágica Software, Info-Care, Linkare e Moredata and members of Open Source Sweden PrimeKev, Red Hat and Front Walker.

During two hours, the companies presented their products and services and explored potential business opportunities, exchanged ideas and experiences about the development and promotion of Open Source in their respective countries and in Europe. Recent market studies on the impact of Open Source on the profitability of companies and on the European economy were also analyzed.

The opportunities and challenges for the Open Source markets of both countries, the different approaches which the Governments of both States and the European Commission have regarding Open Source and Digital Sovereignty deserved the attention of the participating companies, where some topics for joint efforts were drawn, also to be developed with APELL - The European Open Source Software Business Association, which both associations are part of.

A topic that sparked widespread interest and debate focused on the issue of hiring practices for people and services that, in many cases, pose barriers to a broader contribution to Open Source communities, a discussion that the stakeholders agreed to pursue.

The meeting was held in a hybrid format, through the free access and Open Source Jitsi platform with the support of Caixa Mágica Software, at whose premises the face-to-face meeting was held in Portugal.

ESOP will organize more exchanges with other European partners in order to stimulate the internationalization of our members and the dialogue on open source technologies.

The ESOP Board thanks all those involved for their presence and contributions.