How does the nomination process to the European Open Source Awards work?
The nomination process for the European Open Source Awards is designed to be open, inclusive, and community-driven, reflecting the collaborative spirit at the heart of open source. Each year, the month-long process begins by inviting submissions from anyone engaged in the open source ecosystem, whether they are contributors to open source hardware, software, other open source technologies, policy makers, or researchers.
Once the nomination period closes, the Academy Secretariat and Academy members undertake a comprehensive review of all submissions. Each nomination is assessed holistically, with evaluators considering innovation, community impact, long-term commitment, and alignment with open source values.
Particular attention is given to the nominee’s connection to the European open source ecosystem. For the Prize for Excellence in Open Source, which is then voted on by the whole Academy, the Academy Presidium prepares a candidates shortlist. For the Special Recognitions, the evaluation and selection is handled by the members of the corresponding committee Section. This careful, criteria-driven review ensures that the selection process not only identifies excellence but also reflects the richness and diversity of open source work across Europe.
The next call for nominations will open in October 2026, as we look for the next generation of European Open Source Awardees.