Reflecting on FOSS4G Europe in Timisoara

There’s something truly special about gathering with the open source GIS community. We recently returned from FOSS4G Europe, in Timisoara, where we were proud to serve as Gold Sponsors, and we’re still buzzing from the energy of the event. With 300 attendees coming together to share knowledge and vision, it was a reminder of why we do what we do.

First and foremost, a massive thank you to the local organizers and the incredible team of volunteers. You made us feel welcome every single step of the way, your dedication set the tone for a fantastic week. 

FOSS4G is always a wonderful mix of technical deep dives and human connection. We had the pleasure of engaging with academia and partners, discussing the path forward for Mergin Maps. We found out a lot of teachers still don’t know about our free Mergin Maps plan for academia.

On the session front, the one that stood out was Marco Minghini and Stefanie Lumnitz’s thought-provoking talk on ethics and tech sovereignty - a vital conversation about our independence and the future of our field. The session sparked critical discussions regarding the potential path forward for GIS in Europe in the event of political turmoil and the necessity for tech sovereignty. We believe a discussion like this is much needed these days. 

On the technical side, our team found plenty of inspiration in the sessions. A real highlight was PROJ is Not Only About Projections, which took a deep dive into the engine behind our spatial transformations. Working with CRS transformations, vertical datums, and grid shifts in QGIS and Mergin Maps can often feel like a steep climb, but this talk demystified how PROJ handles these complex operations behind the scenes. It provided invaluable, practical clarity for anyone looking to master high-precision positioning and coordinate operations. 

We were also deeply inspired by Hans van der Kwast’s session, "Making cities more liveable in a FOSS way: open data to the rescue!" Hans demonstrated how local governments can harness open geospatial data and FOSS tools to tackle climate challenges-from mapping urban heat islands to planning for flash floods. It showcased how open source gives municipalities actionable insights to make cities more climate-resilient, a topic that resonates strongly with ongoing urban planning and sustainability initiatives across Europe. 

In our day-to-day work, we don't always get the chance to sit down with the users behind the software. The icebreaker session and the B2B dinner were rare opportunities to have genuine conversations with our partners, listen to the challenges they face, and celebrate the success stories that fuel our passion for QGIS. We also hosted a dinner for our partners, which was an absolute delight and a wonderful chance to catch up in a more relaxed setting. 

Thank you to everyone who made FOSS4G Europe such a memorable experience. It’s these moments of connection that drive the open source GIS movement forward. See you next time, Romania!

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