SUSE at openSSL’s Brno Office Grand Opening

Brno, Czechia – 21.8.2025 – Yesterday, I had the pleasure of representing SUSE at the grand opening of openSSL’s brand-new Brno office, led by Tim Hudson and Anton Arapov, supported by the amazing openSSL team. The team did not want a turnkey office, they wanted something special. After exploring options, they found a beautiful space on Kotlářská Street with a layout perfectly suited for both work and local events.

Local designers and artists helped transform the office into a modern-industrial yet cozy environment. Recycled materials were used throughout, the acoustics are fantastic, and the meeting rooms are impressively silent. One of the rooms is even planned to become a recording studio, a nod to creativity and collaboration. The opening was marked by a symbolic white ribbon-cutting ceremony.

Brno was an obvious choice for openSSL, thanks to the city’s incredible talent pool, strong universities, and the fact that several employees were already based there. Today, the corporation employs roughly 20 people, with 12 in Brno and others in Denmark and beyond.

openSSL also demonstrates a strong commitment to the local community. The company is the official sponsor of the new Beringia enclosure at ZOO Brno, a modern habitat for three female polar bears: Cora, who previously raised several cubs at the zoo, and two newcomers, Anna and Elsa. Visitors can now see the bears together, separated only by a fence, marking a milestone in the zoo’s development.

Beyond celebrating the new office, SUSE and openSSL explored exciting partnership opportunities. Talks included SUSE becoming an annual sponsor of the openSSL conference in Prague this October 7–9. We are also discussing openSSL joining next year’s SUSE Labs events across Czechia, and potentially teaming up on SUSE’s Hackweek 25, which could take place in the new openSSL Brno office from December 1–5. South Moravian SUSE employees participated in Hackweek 24 at the Regus coworking space in Brno. SUSE has roughly 20 employees in the Brno area.

This new office is more than just a workspace, it is a hub for innovation, community, and collaboration. With both teams eager to explore joint initiatives, the future looks bright. Who knows what we could build together next?