Tech Titans Team Up for Unprecedented 24-Hour InnerSource Summit

A New Era in Collaborative Software Development

On November 13, 2025, the tech landscape will witness an extraordinary event: the tenth annual InnerSource Summit, a 24-hour gathering hosted by tech giants IBM, SAP, and Mitsubishi Electric. This summit marks a historical milestone as it expands its reach to three continents, making it the first of its kind to engage participants globally in real-time. Venues include IBM’s One Madison office in New York, SAP's headquarters in Berlin, and Mitsubishi Electric’s facility in Yokohama, Japan. Virtual attendance will further allow people from around the world to join in this significant celebration of open collaborative development.

The InnerSource Commons Foundation, a key player in promoting these innovative practices, has seen a remarkable journey over the last decade. Starting in 2015 as a niche community of practitioners, it has expanded dramatically, now comprising over 3,000 members representing more than 800 organizations—from corporations to academic institutions and government entities. Its growth reflects an increasing recognition of InnerSource's value in fostering innovation and collaboration across varying fields.

The Significance of InnerSource

InnerSource practices allow organizations to adopt open-source principles internally, promoting cooperation among teams to enhance software development processes significantly. According to industry analysts at Gartner, InnerSource has been identified as a leading strategic technology trend within software engineering, recognized for its ability to improve software quality, reduce time to market, and streamline development efficiency.

Chairman of the Board, Daniel Izquierdo, stated, "This 24-hour global celebration embodies the very principles we champion—open collaboration transcending boundaries." The focus will be on sharing diverse perspectives, showcasing how innovative approaches can drive productivity and enterprise-wide change.

The summit schedule is meticulously designed to honor global time zones, featuring a variety of presentations, case studies, and interactive collaboration sessions. Attendees will learn how businesses are successfully leveraging InnerSource methodologies to dismantle silos, advance innovation, and cultivate knowledge-sharing among their teams.

Keynote speakers include industry leaders such as Katsura Ito from the Japan National Personnel Authority, Peter Giese from SAP’s Open Source Program Office, and Olivia Buzek from IBM’s AI for Developers team. As this milestone event unfolds, the organizers anticipate an unprecedented number of proposals and presentations, highlighting the immense interest in InnerSource practices.

Looking Forward

As the focus on open collaborative development continues to grow, the InnerSource Summit 2025 signifies not just an anniversary event but also a pivotal point in demonstrating how essential InnerSource has become to modern enterprise strategy. Businesses that embrace these collaborative methodologies stand to gain significantly, both technically and culturally.

Ultimately, the InnerSource Commons Foundation is committed to guiding organizations and empowering developers to exemplify open collaboration principles in their workflows. Since its founding, the foundation has been a beacon for knowledge-sharing and innovation in InnerSource practices. Those interested in participating in this global gathering can find registration information and event details at InnerSource Commons Foundation’s website.

The InnerSource Summit 2025 is more than just a conference; it is a testament to the enduring spirit of innovation through community and collaboration in the tech industry. As global organizations come together to share insights and perspectives, we stand on the brink of a new era in software development.