Open Source Hardware Association

The Open Source Hardware Association (OSHWA) is a non-profit organization that advocates for open-source hardware.^[2][3] It aims to act as a hub of open source hardware activity of all types while actively cooperating with other initiatives such as the TAPR Open Hardware License, open-source development groups at CERN, and the Open Source Initiative (OSI). It has also been active in promoting diversity and inclusive terminology within the open source hardware movement.^[4][5][6]

Open Source Hardware Association

Abbreviation	OSHWA
Formation	2012; 13 years ago (2012)
Founder	Alicia Gibb
Type	Non-profit organization
Purpose	Open Hardware advocacy
Board of directors	https://www.oshwa.org/about/board-members/[1]
Website	oshwa.org

History

The OSHWA was established as an organization in June 2012 by Alicia Gibb, who had been working on the Open Hardware Summit during graduate study.^[7] After some debate about trademark with the OSI,^[8] in 2012 the OSHWA and the OSI signed a co-existence agreement.^[9]

Open Source Hardware Summit

The Open Source Hardware Summit is the annual gathering organized by OSHWA for the open hardware community that takes place at a different location each year. The summit features presentations of projects and developments within the open hardware field from a diverse range of speakers.^[10] OSHWA offers the Ada Lovelace Fellowship that covers the costs of the summit to encourage women, LGBTA+ and/or other minorities to actively participate in open technology.^[11] The 2024 Open Hardware Summit took place May 3 & 4, 2024 at Concordia University and lespacemaker in Montreal, Canada.^[12]

Open Source Hardware Certificate

In 2016 OSHWA announced its certification program for open-source hardware at the Open Hardware Summit in Portland, Oregon.^[13] The certification aims to offer a simple process for producers of open hardware to indicate that their products meet a uniform and well-defined standard for open-source compliance. ^[14]