Sierra supported KiCon 2019, an event we're pleased to have taken part in. Here's our account of it!
KiCon: A Pivotal Gathering for KiCad Users and Hardware Developers
KiCon, the annual KiCad users conference, is a significant event in the hardware development community. This gathering brings together developers, manufacturers, and enthusiasts of KiCad, an open-source electronic design automation (EDA) software used extensively in the tech industry for printed circuit board (PCB) design.
The conference's primary objective is to serve as a platform for knowledge exchange, fostering collaboration and community engagement. It achieves this through talks, workshops, and training sessions, catering to users of all skill levels and the KiCad Lead Development Team.
The inaugural KiCon took place in 2019, sponsored by Sierra, a company aiming to make a significant impact on hardware development with KiCad. The event was held in Chicago on April 26 and 27, attracting a wide range of attendees, including PCB designers learning KiCad for the first time, as well as those with expert-level skills.
One of the key focuses at KiCon is to demonstrate the inner workings of KiCad, providing insights into what's "under the hood." The conference also showcases classes teaching attendees how to optimize their use of KiCad for advanced product design. In addition, the manufacturer panel offers an opportunity for PCB designers to ask questions and receive answers from experts, addressing design constraints related to manufacturing capabilities.
Besides the annual North American event, KiCon is also expanding to Europe. The third KiCon Europe is scheduled for September 10–12, 2025, at Ruhr Universität Bochum in Germany. This conference typically includes keynotes by prominent figures, hands-on training, and ample opportunities for networking among users and developers from Europe and worldwide.
In summary, KiCon functions as a hub for hardware development innovation centered around KiCad, evolving from its origins into a well-established international conference with plans to continue fostering collaboration and education among users and developers. It's the first and the largest gathering of hardware developers using KiCad, offering a unique opportunity to learn, network, and share insights in the realm of PCB design.
[1] KiCon Europe 2025: https://kicon.io/europe/2025/ [2] KiCon 2020: https://kicon.io/2020/
- Participants at KiCon, an annual conference focused on KiCad, a popular open-source software for education and self-development in the field of technology, have the opportunity to optimize their use of KiCad for advanced product design and network with experts.
- The expansion of KiCon to Europe will foster a broader community for technology education and self-development, providing a platform for knowledge exchange among users and developers of KiCad across the continent and globally.
