United Nations Headquarters to Host World’s Largest Mission-Driven Open-Source Technology Conference, 8-17 July
NEW YORK, 6 April 2016 (Office of Information and Communications Technology) — The United Nations Office of Information and Communications Technology will host “Open Camps @ UN 2016” from 8 to 17 July at the Organization’s New York City Headquarters, the Office announced today.
Expected to be among the world’s largest events focusing on open-source technology, the conference will welcome as many as 6,000 developers from open-source communities, private sector technology companies, academic institutions and United Nations Member States interested in developing partnerships to explore open-source technology solutions that support the world body’s mission. The event will feature hundreds of sessions focusing on dozens of open-source technologies.
The United Nations views open-source technology as a critical enabler for implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals, offering the potential to facilitate global innovation and empower individuals and organizations, as well as the private and public sectors.
Open Camps is a collection of mission-driven open-source technology conferences and events focused on building the partnerships that support open-source innovations, adoption and contributions. The Open Camps @ UN 2016 programme will include leading conferences, such as PyGotham, Drupal NYC Camp and Word Camp NYC, and feature special initiatives relating to youth and diversity in technology, as well as an Apps for Humanity initiative that encourages developers to contribute to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
“We are committed to ensuring there are no barriers between the best developers, technologies and data available,” said Atefeh Riazi, Assistant Secretary-General and Chief Information Technology Officer. Open Camps @ UN 2016 will serve as a global magnet for developers who are driven by an interest in leveraging open-source technology for the public good.”
Open Camps @ UN 2016 is a collaboration of the United Nations Open Source Innovation Initiative (Unite Open Source), the Open Camps organizing team and dozens of open-source communities. Unite Open Source aims to become a centre of excellence in open-source knowledge, and a hub for open-source communities, private companies and United Nations Member States to meet and strengthen existing open-source projects while starting new ones.
Attendance at Open Camps @ UN 2016 is open to all, but advance registration is required. For more information about Unite Open Source or Open Camps, or to register for Open Camps @ UN 2016, please visit www.opencamps.org and unite.un.org/opensource.