OSPO : "Open Source and PCB design at CERN"

by Christos Gentsos (CERN (IT-CA-GES)), Evangelia Gousiou (CERN), Javier Serrano (CERN), Roberto Fernandez Bautista (CERN), Tomasz Wlostowski (CERN)

Monday 14 Sept 2026, 16:30 → 17:30 Europe/Zurich

774/R-013 (CERN)

Abstract:

Open Source Software and Hardware both feature prominently in CERN's Open Science Policy [1]. From a practical perspective, the implementation of these parts of the policy at CERN is supported by the Open Source Program Office (OSPO) [2].

The presentation will be split in two sections. The first part will introduce the rationale for CERN's Open Source policies and the OSPO, including its history, mandate and principles of operation. We will describe how the OSPO can help you open-source your work, and we will also provide a summary of plans in the OSPO for 2026-27. Part of those plans involve Electronics Design Automation (EDA), in particular supporting the open-sourcing of the CERN KiCad component libraries. This will provide a natural transition to the second part of the presentation. The EDA tools supported at CERN by IT are discussed and decided in the newly-revived EDA Committee (EDAC) [3]. We will introduce EDAC and their recent work on reviewing PCB design tools at CERN, along with their recommendations regarding KiCad [4]. We will also describe the support of KiCad at CERN, managed by IT [5], and conclude with a KiCad demonstration. One key goal of the presentation is to explore ways in which more design teams at CERN can use KiCad and open-source their designs. With this in mind, we will reserve ample time at the end to discuss, answering questions and concerns, taking in comments and wishes, and identifying subjects worthy of more detailed follow-up.

 

[1] https://openscience.cern/

[2] https://ospo.docs.cern.ch/

[3]

https://confluence.cern.ch/spaces/EDAC/pages/569087698/EDAC+-+EDA+Committee+Home

[4] https://www.kicad.org/

[5] https://engineering-software.docs.cern.ch/eda/sw/kicad/