Open Knowledge: Wikimedia & Research in the CEE Region/Registration & scholarships
Scholarship applications: 1 May - 24 May
Regular registration (without programme submission): 1 May - 24 Aug (or until all places are filled)
In person registration
[edit]To register, click the button below. Your registration will be reviewed internally and confirmed within 3 working days. You will then receive confirmation of your participation and instructions on how to pay the conference fee, if applicable.
- The regular registration fee is 100 PLN or 25 EUR.
- The discounted registration fee (for students and PhD students, and for presenters) is 50 PLN or 12.50 EUR.
If the fee is a barrier for you, you can ask to participate without a fee, through a scholarship.
Registration for the conference takes place via the Coffee platform, operated by the University of Silesia. The first step in the registration process is to create an account, which simply involves providing a valid email address and a new password. These details will be used to log in to your participant account, make any necessary changes, check your payment status, etc.
Registration includes:
- Access to all sessions, workshops, entertainment and networking opportunities
- Meals during the conference: welcome dinner on Thursday, lunch & dinner on Friday, lunch on Saturday, coffee breaks throughout the event
- Welcome pack with programme and small merchandise
If you are applying for a scholarship, please wait for the outcome of your scholarship application before registering. A place will be held for you until then.
All participation is subject to Trust & Safety checks by Wikimedia Foundation which will happen once registration is closed, in August. In rare cases when you are not allowed to attend the event, you will be informed as soon as possible, and no later than 3 weeks before the event.
More information about registration for online participation will be available soon.
Scholarships
[edit]What scholarships are we offering?
[edit]As part of the conference, a limited number of scholarships will be offered. We have different types of scholarships depending on the applicant's needs. You can apply for:
- Exemption from the conference fee (100 PLN or 25 EUR)
- Coverage of travel expenses
- Accommodation during the conference
- Visa costs (if applicable)
Who can apply for a scholarship?
[edit]Scholarships will be available for participants from the Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) Community: Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Cyprus, Estonia, Georgia, Greece, Hungary, Kosovo, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Ukraine, Turkey.
 | Applicants must be 18 years old or older at the time of the conference. Scholarships are available to members of the Wikimedia community. People who are not Wikimedia contributors are not eligible for a scholarship, but are welcome to participate in the conference. |
How to apply for a scholarship?
[edit]Please submit your application via the button below by 24 May 2026 23:59 (CEST).
In the form, we will also ask what kind of support you are applying for. We will ask for your Wikimedia username and the motivations for your application:
- Your input into the Wikimedia projects and community
- Your research experience (optional)
- Why do you wish to take part in the Open Knowledge: Wikimedia & Research conference
- How can you use your participation in this conference in your further work or Wikimedia activity
Who makes the decision?
[edit]The decisions are made by the Scholarship Committee:
- Barbara Klen, Regional CEE Hub Coordinator
- Grzegorz Gogacz, Wikimedia Polska’s board member & Wikimedian in Residence
- Grzegorz Kopaczewski, Wikimedia Polska’s director
- Olena Vinsent, Wikimedia Ukraine’s education program manager
- Viacheslav Mamon, librarian, researcher, and Wikimedia Ukraine’s board member
What will the process look like?
[edit]The Committee will assess the applications after the submission deadline (24 May). Applications will also be subject to Trust & Safety checks by Wikimedia Foundation, which can take up to 2 weeks. We will let you know the decisions by email, a few weeks after the deadline. You will have 10 days to confirm your interest.
What can the scholarship cover exactly?
[edit]If your application is approved:
- If you applied for exemption from the conference fee, we will mark it as paid.
- If you applied for accommodation, we will book accommodation for you for up to 3 nights (8 - 11 October); we will contact you to discuss the details. Double rooms will be the default option.
- If you applied for travel costs, we will buy your transport tickets. We will contact you about the details first.
- If you applied for visa costs, we will contact you about the details.
Please note that, as a general rule, we do not reimburse travel costs incurred when travelling by car. Exceptions are made in particularly justified cases, such as the need to travel by car due to a disability, health reasons or lack of access to public transport.
Travel tickets will be in economy class or second class. Ground travel is encouraged where possible. For national travel, tickets for EIC and EIP trains and any first-class train category will not be accepted. For international travel, EuroCity trains will be accepted.
A limited number of single rooms will be available for scholarship recipients at an additional cost of 500 PLN (120 EUR) to cover the price difference. Priority will be given to the applicants who declare interest and pay the fee first (once your scholarship application is approved).
Scholarship recipients will need to accept the WMF Scholarship travel policy.