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CGAL Turns 30: Two Special Events for the Open Source Community
2026 is a big year for CGAL: we celebrate the 30th anniversary of the project alongside our 50th CGAL Developer Meeting!
To mark these milestones, we invite you to two public, half-day events dedicated to the world of Open Source:
- Technical Showcases: in-depth technical presentations of three major geometric libraries CGAL, SOFA, and VTK
- Panel Discussion: "Open Source, More Than Just a License": strategies and challenges of Open Source projects
Schedule and Venue
Where: Inria Centre at Université Côte d'Azur, Sophia Antipolis (France)
When: April 23rd, 2026
Program
Technical Showcases
In the morning session, we will take an in-depth look at the features of some geometry-related Open Source projects.
| 09:00 - 09:15 |
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Introduction
Stéphane Lanteri, Inria
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| 09:15 - 10:00 |
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CGAL
Sebastien Loriot, GeometryFactory
CGAL is an Open Source software library that provides geometric algorithms in the form of a C++ library.
The algorithms range from spatial search structures, over point set processing, mesh generation, to polygon mesh processing.
CGAL is used in various areas with a need for geometric computation, such as geographic information systems,
computer aided design, molecular biology, medical imaging, computer graphics, and robotics.
www.cgal.org
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| 10:00 - 10:45 |
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SOFA
Hugo Talbot, Inria
SOFA is an Open Source software designed for interactive mechanical simulation, with a focus on biomechanics and robotics.
The software project is recognized for its ability to model the dynamics and interactions of rigid and deformable bodies.
This makes it an ideal tool for creating digital twins.
www.sofa-framework.org
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| 11:15 - 12:00 |
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VTK, ParaView, VESPA
Guillaume Gisbert, Kitware
The Visualization Toolkit (VTK) is Open Source software for manipulating and displaying scientific data.
It provides state-of-the-art tools for 3D rendering, a suite of widgets for 3D interaction, 2D plotting capability,
and advanced data exploration features.
ParaView is an Open Source, cross-platform data analysis and visualization application based on VTK.
VESPA enables the integration of CGAL algorithms into the VTK ecosystem. The filters can be used either as part of a VTK module or as plugins in ParaView.
www.vtk.org, www.paraview.org
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Panel Discussion: Open Source, More Than Just a License
This event shifts the focus from scientific and technical to the organizational aspects
of Open Source in academia: panelists will present a range of project models,
from single developer to large teams of contributors, and from volunteer work
to funded projects. These short overviews will be followed by a panel discussion
on the models and the challenges of Open Source projects.
| 14:00 - 14:15 |
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Introduction
Anthony Schoofs, Head of Partnerships & Technology Transfer, Inria
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| 14:15 - 15:30 |
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Panelist Presentations
Each panelist will present either their project, or how their organisation deals with Open Source.
- Yves Bertot, Inria Stamp (Rocq)
- Mathieu Bredif, Univ Gustave Eiffel (OS at IGN)
- Guillaume Gisbert, Kitware (VTK, ParaView, VESPA)
- Andreas Fabri, GeometryFactory (CGAL)
- Bruno Lévy, Inria ParMa (Geogram)
- Vincent Picavet, Oslandia
- Hugo Talbot, Inria (SOFA)
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| 15:45 - 17:45 |
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Panel Discussion
The panelists discuss the different models and the challenges faced by Open Source
projects in academia, such as funding, recognition, sustainability, and community building.
Moderator: Pierre Alliez, Inria Titane
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| 18:00 - 20:00 |
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Reception
Join us at the end of the day for a relaxed gathering with refreshments and informal networking.
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