Welcoming Our 2026 OpenSSL Conference Scholarship Recipients

OpenSSL is strengthened by a global community of developers, researchers, students, security professionals, and open source contributors. The 2026 OpenSSL Conference gives that community an opportunity to meet in person, exchange ideas, learn from one another, and build connections.

In June, the OpenSSL Foundation announced scholarship opportunities to help make the OpenSSL Conference accessible to community members who might not otherwise be able to attend. Today, we’re pleased to welcome 15 scholarship recipients who will be headed to Prague in October.

Each scholarship award includes conference registration, three nights of lodging at the conference hotel, meals during the conference, and access to official networking events.

Who’s joining us

This year’s scholarship recipients come from nine countries across four continents: Algeria, Armenia, the Czech Republic, Finland, India, Pakistan, Poland, Portugal, and the United States.

This year's cohort reflects the broad reach of the OpenSSL ecosystem. Alongside students, researchers, developers, and security professionals, the group includes professionals from journalism, education, and public interest technology, including a Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative technology journalist. Together, the recipients bring diverse perspectives and experiences that will enrich conversations throughout the conference.

Bringing more voices into the OpenSSL community

One goal of the scholarship program is to broaden participation in OpenSSL Conference and create opportunities for more people to become part of the OpenSSL community.

This year, three of our 15 scholarship recipients are women. Increasing participation from underrepresented groups remains an important goal of the scholarship program. It’s a step in the direction of bringing greater representation to a field where women have historically been underrepresented. We look forward to building on that progress in the years ahead.

Why the scholarship program matters

The ⁠OpenSSL Library depends on a strong community of people who understand it, use it, contribute to it, and share that knowledge with others.

For scholarship recipients, the conference is an opportunity to meet the people behind the project, learn from others working in cryptography and open source security, and build relationships that continue beyond Prague.

Last year’s recipients returned home feeling more connected to the OpenSSL community and motivated to contribute and share what they had learned. We’re looking forward to seeing the connections, ideas, and contributions that come from this year’s group.

Thank you to our supporters

The OpenSSL Conference scholarship program is made possible through the generosity of the Foundation’s ⁠donors and sponsors. We’re especially grateful to our ⁠Code Protectors, whose ongoing support helps make programs like this possible. If you’d like to help expand opportunities for community members to participate in future OpenSSL Conferences, visit ⁠Ways to Give.

And if you’ll be joining us in Prague this October, please say hello to our scholarship recipients and help us give them a warm welcome.