OpenUK

OpenUK is a UK-based not-for-profit company which supports open source collaboration and open technologies within the United Kingdom. Its primary stated focus is to develop and sustain UK leadership in "open technology", consisting of open-source software, open-source hardware and open data.[2] Participants in OpenUK are organisational supporters as well as individual volunteers and committee members, which constitute a body of expertise. In 2020, OpenUK was identified as a key strategic player in UK open source within the European Commission Open Source Software Country Intelligence Report for the United Kingdom, alongside the British Computer Society.[2] The Chief Executive Officer and Chief Policy Officer for OpenUK is Amanda Brock.[3]

Organisation

OpenUK is run by a leadership team[4] covering core organizational functions, with thematic activities across its pillars being driven by workstream committees.[5]

Activities

OpenUK's activity is structured across three themes or pillars; Community, Legal & Policy and Learning.

Within the Community pillar, OpenUK runs a number of events and activities to create a voice inclusive of open technology communities across the UK. In 2020, these included the OpenUK Awards recognising achievement within the UK and contribution to UK leadership in open technologies. OpenUK also undertakes external advocacy, and ran an information stand at the European free software conference, FOSDEM, in 2020.

Under its Legal & Policy umbrella, OpenUK's activities aim to ensure an environment suitable for the use and deployment of open technology in the UK. This includes raising awareness of legal and policy developments within open technology, and collaborating on the EU OSOR report on UK open source activity.[8][9]

Within the Learning pillar is promotion of open technology understanding and familiarity amongst young people and adults in the UK, including at school level and university level.

The UK government's Central Digital and Data Office identify OpenUK as the organisation to assist with locating resources to support the OpenDocument format.[10]

Reports

A three-part report titled 'State of Open'[11] was commissioned and delivered in 2021. The Register commented: "OpenUK's latest report paints a rosy picture of open source adoption".[12] The third part, based on a survey of 273 UK businesses, found the UK was the top contributor to open-source software in Europe.[13]

OpenUK awards

A set of awards is run by OpenUK to recognise contributions to the UK open technology environment, divided across a number of categories:

Nominations are made early in the year, from which shortlists of 2-3 nominees are created by the Judging Panel. The first awards ceremony was held online in October 2020. The second ceremony, in November 2021, took place in Glasgow following OpenUK's Open Technology for Sustainability Day at COP26 and included two new categories: Belonging and Sustainability.

type	Private company limited by guarantee
formation	February 16, 2018‡R1R‡
location	United Kingdom
key people	Amanda Brock
founder	Stuart J Mackintosh
region served	United Kingdom
website	https://openuk.uk/

Organisation

Activities

Reports

OpenUK awards

Board

History

References

Winners

Winners

Kids Competition

COP26