Government Chief Information Officer Louise McKeever and the European Commission’s Dimitri Lorenzani address Ireland’s opportunities in Europe’s changing technology landscape.
Europe’s open-source strategy must deliver for smaller countries such as Ireland, OpenForum Europe argues at a Dublin policy forum this week (13th October) Ireland’s Government Chief Information Officer Louise McKeever and senior European Commission official Dimitri Lorenzani, Head of Unit at the Commission’s Directorate-General for Communications Networks, Content and Technology (DG CNECT), delivered keynote addresses at the event.
The OpenForum Europe Capital Series examined how Ireland and other smaller European countries can use open technologies to strengthen competitiveness, build their own capabilities and retain greater control over the digital systems they depend on. Taking place during Ireland’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union, the forum brought European policy discussions directly to Irish Government, researchers, businesses and the open-source community.
The European Commission’s Open Source Strategy, published in June as part of its Tech Sovereignty Package, sets out measures to support skills, sustainable open-source businesses and greater use of open technologies in public procurement. The discussions in Dublin explored how smaller countries can help shape that agenda and turn it into practical benefits.
Clara Thébert, Policy Advisor at OpenForum Europe, said: “Europe’s open-source strategy needs to deliver for smaller countries as well as its largest economies. Countries such as Ireland should have a meaningful role in shaping Europe’s technology agenda and a clear opportunity to benefit from it. Ireland’s Presidency gives us a chance to bring those perspectives directly into the European policy discussion. Today is about understanding what smaller countries need to build their own capabilities, remain competitive and contribute to Europe’s digital future.”
McKeever and Lorenzani brought Irish Government and European policy perspectives to the discussion as Ireland holds the Presidency of the Council of the European Union. Speakers also drew on experience from the Nordic and Baltic regions to explore collaboration across countries, sectors and research communities.
For Irish businesses, the discussion considered where open technologies can reduce barriers to AI adoption, support the development of new products and help companies reach customers across Europe. CSO figures published on 29 September show that 43.6% of surveyed foreign-owned enterprises used AI in 2025, compared with 16.3% of domestically owned enterprises. Although domestic adoption is growing, the figures underline the importance of extending practical support to more Irish businesses.
ADAPT’s Olivia Waters, Head of Impact and Growth Strategy, chaired a panel on “Open Source Technologies and AI for Irish SMEs: Unlocking Cross-Border Growth”. She was joined by Jamie Hackett, CTO of AI² (AI Adoption Ireland); John Durcan, Chief Technologist at IDA Ireland; Aoife Tierney, Knowledge Transfer Manager at Trinity College Dublin; and Rhys Oxenham, VP for AI at SUSE. The panel explored how open technologies can help Irish businesses adopt AI, retain control over their technology and turn research into products and services that can reach European markets.
The event took place at the Smock Alley Theatre and was organised by OpenForum Europe with Trinity College Dublin, the Research Ireland ADAPT Centre, APELL and the Open Ireland Network. It was an official associated event of Ireland’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union.
The wider programme covered European digital sovereignty, opportunities for smaller member states and the implementation of trusted AI.
