EU Open Source Policy Summit 2026 - Panel: Europe’s Software Challenge

Industrial policy is once again at the centre of Europe’s strategic agenda — in Brussels and across Member States. Yet while hardware, physical infrastructure, and data centre strategies are comparatively established, software requires a distinct approach. Competitiveness and sovereignty in software depend on long-term capability, open collaboration, and public–private alignment. This opening discussion will explore how openness can underpin a European software policy that enables innovation, reduces dependency, and strengthens digital sovereignty. Bringing together policymakers, government leaders, and industry executives, the panel will consider how Europe can position its software ecosystem as a pillar of industrial strength and what frameworks are needed to make openness a defining element of European competitiveness. Speakers: Aura Salla (Member of the European Parliament (EPP)), Shane Coughlan (Member of the General Assembly, OpenForum Europe), Andrea Gallo (CEO, RISC-V Intern