Acting Prime Minister Albin Kurti highlighted the importance of action, collaboration, and civic innovation during the opening of the Software Freedom Kosova 2025 conference, the largest annual open-source software and hardware event in Southeast Europe.
The conference, marking its 17th edition and 10th anniversary, brings together developers, students, researchers, and innovators from Kosovo and the international community to share experiences and promote open technology.
Kurti emphasized that Kosovo has demonstrated that civic engagement and collaboration drive sustainable progress, praising FLOSSK for promoting the country on the international technology stage.
“Kosovo has shown that action, cooperation, and civic engagement can bring real and sustainable progress. Through your work, Kosovo has organized major international conferences such as DEP, CONF, and FOS4G, proving that our country can contribute meaningfully to the global open-source movement. FLOSSK has also played a key role in improving Kosovo’s coverage in OpenStreetMap, creating free geographic data that supports better navigation and planning. In short, FLOSSK has put Kosovo on the global open-source map,” Kurti said.
He also stressed that the conference promotes knowledge-sharing and collaboration:
“Software Freedom Kosovo 2025 continues this mission. It brings together developers, researchers, students, innovators, and thinkers who believe that knowledge should be shared and technology should serve people. The conference features local and international speakers, contributors from communities like Wikimedia and Arduino, and participants from Kosovo creating open-source projects used by thousands worldwide.”
Kurti highlighted the importance of open hardware, noting that:
“Open technology is not just about software. Open hardware allows people to understand, modify, and build the devices they use every day. It empowers students, engineers, and creators to learn from each other, innovate locally, and develop technology that truly serves their communities. Open hardware, like open software, provides independence, transparency, and the ability to solve problems together.”
Dean of the Faculty of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Isak Shabani, emphasized the role of the University of Pristina, one of Kosovo’s largest public institutions, in supporting the event. He noted that the faculty has around 2,000 students and aims to create innovative, integrated educational models.
FLOSSK Director Besfort Guri outlined the conference agenda, which spans two days and includes lectures, workshops, and networking sessions for professionals and enthusiasts, aiming to share knowledge and foster collaboration in open innovation.
Over its 17 years, the conference has hosted internationally renowned speakers such as Glynn Moody, Bruce Perens, Leon Shiman, Peter Salus, Rob Savoye, and Mikel Maron, marking a decade of impact for Kosovo’s open-source community.
