COMMON EUROPE CONGRESS 2025: Full Schedule

WELCOME TO COMMON EUROPE CONGRESS 2025

Don’t forget to reach out to your local country user group to get the discount code for the congress!

Common Europe, in collaboration with Common Sweden, is delighted to be holding its annual flagship event, Common Europe Congress, in the friendly city of Gothenburg offering extensive education, networking and relaxation opportunities. It’s also a great opportunity for exploring the city… so why not take a family mini-break as well.
Congress education areas targeted are IBM Power hardware, Application Development, Advanced RPG, Open Source tools and Languages, System Management, Db2 and SQL, IBM Storage, IBM i services and microservices, Security and Compliance and much more.
There will be two AIX / Linux tracks, to emphasize the Power Systems character of Common Europe.
Top IBM Business Architects and industry experts have already agreed to share their knowledge on the latest announcements, customer cases as well as practical subjects.
The congress content includes:

3 ½ days of latest education delivered by top IBM and industry leading speakers punctuated by large breaks offering maximum networking,
Three-hour in-depth workshops, 60 minutes’ education sessions and solution provider’s special slots,
A Solution Providers’ Centre open for 2 ½ days with top European and worldwide technology companies at their booths presenting innovative practical solutions that will enhance our solutions,
A Congress Dinner in the hotel with live entertainment.

We have negotiated special room rates in the Congress hotel itself,
The Common Europe Organization Team looks forward to seeing you in picturesque Gothenburg.

You will be able to validate your attendance (Check-In to sessions) using your personal schedule.

arrow_back View All Dates

09:00 CEST

IBM ISV Advisory Council (Invitation only)

Monday June 2, 2025 09:00 - 13:00 CEST

11 - R9

Speakers

Tim Rowe

STSM - IBM i Business Architect, IBM

Tim Rowe is the Business Architect responsible for Application Development and Systems Management for the IBM i operating system. His responsibilities include helping to make sure that the IBM i has what is needed to be successful both today and into the future. He sends much of his... Read More →

Monday June 2, 2025 09:00 - 13:00 CEST
11 - R9

10:00 CEST

Automating Power Virtual Servers with Ansible and AAP LIMITED

Monday June 2, 2025 10:00 - 13:00 CEST

09 - R14

This hands-on lab introduces you to Ansible and Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform (AAP) for automating IBM Power Virtual Servers on IBM Cloud. In the first part, you'll learn Ansible fundamentals, including playbooks, collections, and AAP. In the second part, you'll apply these skills to deploy and manage PowerVS instances via Ansible playbooks.

Speakers

Fabio Alessandro Locati

Principal Specialist Solution Architect, Red Hat

Fabio Alessandro Locati - commonly known as Fale - is an EMEA Principal Solutions Architect at Red Hat, public speaker, published author, and Open Source contributor. His main areas of expertise are Linux, containers (ie: Kubernetes), automation (ie: Ansible), security, cloud (mainly... Read More →

Geoffrey Pascal

Technology Engineer, IBM

Monday June 2, 2025 10:00 - 13:00 CEST
09 - R14

Workshop

10:00 CEST

Data Centric - Moving Business Logik into the Database LIMITED

Monday June 2, 2025 10:00 - 13:00 CEST

08 - R11/R12

When talking about application modernization database most think about converting from DDS to DDL and redesigning the database Ö and yes, this might be the final goal.
But there is much more Ö because we never can touch the database without respect to the application and vice versa. We have to move from an application-centric thinking to a data centric thinking. In short, instead of coding everything in whatever programming language, we should move as much business logic as possible into the database. It may even include foreign data that is provided and accessed by Web-Services.
But Öwhat does that mean? At first, using encapsulated (complex) SQL Statements wrapped in SQL Views or User Defined Table Functions, externalizing Data Access, adding constraints and triggers, Row And Column Access Control (RCAC) Ö
With all these techniques we cannot only reduce our source code to a minimum but also secure our data!

Speakers

Birgitta Hauser

Database and Software Architect, IBM Champion, Birgitta Hauser - Modernization - Education - Consulting

Birgitta Hauser worked on the IBM i and its predecessors since 1992. She graduated with a business economics diploma, and started programming on the AS/400 in 1992. She worked and works as traditional RPG Programmer but also as Database and Software Engineer, focusing on IBM i application... Read More →

Monday June 2, 2025 10:00 - 13:00 CEST
08 - R11/R12

Workshop

10:00 CEST

Exploring Database Tools (ACS & VS) LIMITED

Monday June 2, 2025 10:00 - 13:00 CEST

06 - R17

In this workshop, Scott will spend the entirety of the workshop doing a live demonstration of the database and SQL tooling found within IBM i Access Client Solutions (ACS) and Visual Studio Code for IBM i - Database Extension. In addition to discovering the database and SQL features, attendees will be able to engage in a live dialog on the better and best practices for all things database.

Speakers

Scott Forstie

STSM, Db2 for i Architect, IBM

Scott Forstie is a Senior Technical Staff Member within IBM i development and spends most of his time working as the Db2 for i Architect. He has worked on IBM operating system development since joining IBM in 1989.Scott is a frequently published author, speaker at industry events... Read More →

Monday June 2, 2025 10:00 - 13:00 CEST
06 - R17

Workshop

10:00 CEST

How to stop and start IBM i - Workshop LIMITED

Monday June 2, 2025 10:00 - 13:00 CEST

07 - R18

IBM i has evolved over the years, so has the way to start and stop your system. the system startup program needs some love and care to gain flexibility. Shutting system down also needs some redecoration.
Are you open for this new approach or curious? If you attend this session, you will go home something worth implementing at your own IBM i LPARs.

Speakers

Rudi van Helvoirt

Technical Director, Easi

After having started as a System/38 programmer in 1986. In 1989 the switch was made to system programming and systems management.Being passionate about systems management he founded van Helvoirt Automatisering in 1993.Rudi enjoys helping IBM i customers ever since for running their... Read More →

Monday June 2, 2025 10:00 - 13:00 CEST
07 - R18

Workshop

10:00 CEST

OpenShift, Microservices, AI (LLM & RAG) plus .NET Deployment on IBM Power Systems LIMITED

Monday June 2, 2025 10:00 - 13:00 CEST

10 - R15

This interactive workshop offers participants a unique "choose-your-path" experience in working with OpenShift Container Platform (OCP) on IBM Power Systems. Participants can select from four distinct laboratory tracks based on their interests and technical priorities, with the flexibility to complete multiple tracks if time permits.
Workshop Overview
The session begins with a brief introduction to OpenShift on IBM Power Systems and an overview of the available tracks. Participants will then have approximately 2.5 hours of hands-on lab time to pursue their chosen path(s), with continuous support from expert instructor.
Available Laboratory Tracks
1. Single-Node OCP Installation
o Learn the fundamentals of installing OpenShift Container Platform on IBM Power
o Work with Ansible scripts for automation
o Configure and manage LPARs through the Hardware Management Console
2. Deploy x86 Microservice Solution on IBM Power with OpenShift
o Port an existing x86 microservice application to Power ppc64le architecture
o Build and optimize container images using Dockerfiles
o Work with OpenShift Internal Registry
3. AI/ML Track: LLM & RAG Implementation
o Deploy LLM & Streamlit for interactive querying
o Deploy Minio to access private storage & Milvus vector database
o Implement Retrieval Augmented Generation with sample data
o Test and evaluate RAG model performance
4. .NET Development Track
o Deploy .NET applications using various methods (RHEL, Podman, S2I)
o Work with different application types (console, web, SignalR)
o Implement container registry operations with Quay.io
o Configure OpenShift deployment workflows

I will provide IBM Power, software and lab guide resources.
Please bring your laptop with admin rights to install VPN to access Power resources.
I recommend installing and testing the VPN before the class.

Speakers

Paul Chapman

Global Power Modernisation Technical Lead, IBM UK

Firstly, I love creating memories with my family and dog, Buddy. Previously I enjoyed European motorcycle tours and track days and still own an Aprilia RSV1000. I spend my recreation time SCUBA diving or anything else adventurous. I have participated in Project Shark in the Red Sea... Read More →

Monday June 2, 2025 10:00 - 13:00 CEST
10 - R15

Workshop

13:00 CEST

Lunch LIMITED

Monday June 2, 2025 13:00 - 14:00 CEST

Restaurant

Monday June 2, 2025 13:00 - 14:00 CEST
Restaurant

Break

14:00 CEST

Db2 on steroids - deep dive

Monday June 2, 2025 14:00 - 17:00 CEST

06 - R17

This deep dive will be about all the cool stuff Db2 can do now. This is all about the noSQL features. Db2 is now a complete ecosystem of structured and unstructured data, procedural programming, and features that reach services and resources out of Db2 and beyond.

Speakers

Niels Liisberg

Chief Software Architect, Partner & IBM Champion, System & Method

Niels has developed IBM i middleware used in numerous applications worldwide. He is the architect of the IceBreak application server for IBM i. Over the years he has contributed to the IBM i community with presentations, demos, and loads of open source: ILEastic and noxDB to name... Read More →

Monday June 2, 2025 14:00 - 17:00 CEST
06 - R17

Workshop

14:00 CEST

Migrating IBM Power i to the Cloud: Best Practices for IBM PowerVS LIMITED

Monday June 2, 2025 14:00 - 17:00 CEST

09 - R14

Moving an IBM Power i system to the cloud offers many benefits, including greater scalability and optimized costs. But how can you ensure a smooth migration? In this workshop, we will share proven approaches and best practices for successfully migrating to IBM Power Virtual Server (PowerVS). We will cover key requirements, common challenges, and effective solutions. Through real-world examples and hands-on demonstrations, participants will learn how to efficiently transition their IBM Power i environment to the cloud and manage it effectively.

Speakers

Marc Rohloff

SVP Global Channels, T.S.P. Gesellschaft fuer Informationssysteme mbH

IBM i Business Continuity - Real-time Data Protection, Disaster Recovery and High Availability, Software and Services.Migration and Consolidation Projects

Monday June 2, 2025 14:00 - 17:00 CEST
09 - R14

Workshop

14:00 CEST

PowerSC hands-on Lab LIMITED

Monday June 2, 2025 14:00 - 17:00 CEST

10 - R15

With increasing focus across all industries on Security and Compliance to regulations, securing your Power workloads has never been more important. This hands-on lab shows you how to use many of the features in PowerSC to keep your IBM i, AIX, and Linux workloads more secure.
Bring your own device to participate - you will need to install OpenVPN and have an SSH client and browser.

By Andrew Laidlaw

Speakers

Andrew Laidlaw

Senior Power Technical Specialist, IBM

A Technical Specialist with IBM Power covering the UK & Ireland.Feel free to talk to me about any interesting topics in technology at the moment, and in particular how they relate to the Power platform that we all know and love. That includes (but is not limited to):AIModernisationAutomationHybrid... Read More →

Monday June 2, 2025 14:00 - 17:00 CEST
10 - R15

Workshop

14:00 CEST

SQL Performance from the System manager point of view LIMITED

Monday June 2, 2025 14:00 - 17:00 CEST

07 - R18

SQL Performance is for some system administrators a black box. In this deep dive that box will be opened. By giving example you will learn how to get insight in SQL performance.

Speakers

Rudi van Helvoirt

Technical Director, Easi

Monday June 2, 2025 14:00 - 17:00 CEST
07 - R18

Workshop

14:00 CEST

Visual Explain workshop - Get hands-on experience LIMITED

Monday June 2, 2025 14:00 - 17:00 CEST

08 - R11/R12

Visual Explain is a short cut to better understand SQL requests and the performance. This hand-on workshop will introduced you to the tools used for analyzing SQL. You will have some labs that will get you started and guide you through different useful exercises. Visual Explain is part of Access Client Solution - ACS. The tool is constantly enhanced, and especially the last year, so the lab will guide you through ways to use the excellent tool. You will be guided through how to analyze and graphically view SQL statements. We will work with information from the Plan Cache snapshot.

Speakers

Morten Buur Rasmussen

Power Performance Specialist, IBM

Morten Buur Rasmussen is a performance Specialist at IBM Technology Expert Labs. Morten has 39 years of experience in the computing field. He started working with the S/38 and AS/400 in 1988 as programmer.Before joining the Lab Services and Expert Labs, he worked for IBM Denmark and... Read More →

Monday June 2, 2025 14:00 - 17:00 CEST
08 - R11/R12

Workshop

18:00 CEST

First Timer Session LIMITED

Monday June 2, 2025 18:00 - 19:00 CEST

13 - Expo Stage

Speakers

Steve Cast

Practice Director, Fresche Solutions

I am the Founder of Redbourn Business Systems, a company acquired by Fresche Solutions in 2024, making us the world's largest IBM i dedicated team, outside of IBM.In my new role as Practice Director of Fresche Europe, I will continue to build on the success of Redbourn Business Systems... Read More →

Monday June 2, 2025 18:00 - 19:00 CEST
13 - Expo Stage

Personal Development

19:00 CEST

Welcome Reception

Monday June 2, 2025 19:00 - 21:00 CEST

01 - Expo

Monday June 2, 2025 19:00 - 21:00 CEST
01 - Expo

Social Event

COMMON EUROPE CONGRESS 2025

From €204.79