On 20th January 2025

OSI² is an official non-profit organization now

Logo of OSI²eV

Open Source Imaging Initiative e.V. Officially Founded!

Last year was monumental for us, even if we’ve been a bit quiet about it.

Back in 2016, a group of passionate scientists and supporters set out on a mission: to make MRI technology open source. Why? Because open-source innovation is the only sustainable way to ensure that vital medical technologies become accessible to patients and researchers worldwide. Transparent systems, where intellectual property is shared non-exclusively, have the potential to revolutionize healthcare on a global scale. We knew we had to try.

Since then, we’ve poured countless hours into developing, prototyping, and reviewing projects. We’ve encouraged and guided others to share their designs and code, fostering a growing community dedicated to this vision. These collective efforts culminated in the creation of the first open-source MRI scanner, the OSI² ONE v1.0.0.

This milestone scanner has been showcased at major events, including the ISMRM 2022 in London and the Hannover Messe 2024. But that’s just the beginning. Development of v2.0 is well underway (check out the A4IM project), and multiple rebuilds are in progress across the Americas, Europe, Africa, and Asia. Other initiatives have emerged, leveraging existing tools to build their own scanners. Funded research projects are diving deeper into the technological and clinical possibilities of these portable low-field scanners. Companies began to take notice, with initial products hitting the market and many more in development. Our vision is advancing faster than we ever imagined.

To take this progress to the next level, we recognized the need for a more formal, impactful organizational structure. We’re proud to announce that, as of last year, the Open Source Imaging Initiative e.V. has been officially established in Berlin, Germany, under German non-profit legislation.

 

OSI² e.V. Timeline

 

What Does This Mean for Our Mission?

This legal foundation empowers us to:

  • Fund development and dissemination of open-source imaging technologies through donations and grants.
  • Guide others in utilizing and rebuilding open-source imaging solutions.
  • Develop robust documentation blueprints for regulatory approval.
  • Acquire and manage assets on behalf of the community.
  • Provide infrastructure, including workshops and digital platforms.
  • Grow and sustain our global community of developers and users.
  • Achieve our vision of open-source medical technology.

What’s Next?

We’re just getting started! Our organizational infrastructure received an upgrade, we have elected board members and official non-profit status secured from the German tax office. Now, we need you to help us push this vision further.

Here’s how you can support us:

  • Become an active member.
  • Donate to help fund our mission.
  • Involve us in grant applications to advance open-source medical technology.

Looking back at what we’ve achieved together so far, we’re incredibly excited about what lies ahead. This journey wouldn’t have been possible without the tireless efforts of our volunteers, supporters and everyone who went the extra mile to share designs and code. To all of you: thank you!

With the collective knowledge and passion of our community, we are confident that we will achieve our goal of accessible open-source MRI scanners, ultrasound devices, and much more. The question isn’t if—it’s when. And with time on our side, the future looks bright.

Want to learn more about our organization, become a member, or support us? Click here or visit the new OSI² e.V. tab in the upper-right corner of this website.

Together, let’s make open-source medical technology a reality!

On behalf of the executive board,

Lukas Winter (Chair)
Luc Jonveaux
Martin Häuer
Ruben Pellicer-Guridi