Blog

Latest

• Blog 24/04/2019
  

  How we used the 'styles of government' tool to explore trade competitiveness

  • Lawrence Kay

  Governments have a role in boosting the competitive advantage of their country’s exporters, but what roles do they play?
• Blog 15/04/2019
  

  Data trusts: what’s the economic function?

  • Data ethics and privacy
  • Data infrastructure
  • Emerging tech and AI
  • Innovation
  • Public administration services

  An independent assessment on the economic impact of data trusts to the UK economy
• Blog 15/04/2019
  

  Greater London Authority and Royal Borough of Greenwich pilot: What happened when we applied a data trust

  • Data ethics and privacy
  • Data infrastructure
  • Data publishing and use
  • Emerging tech and AI
  • Innovation
  • Public administration services
  • Cities

  What happened when we applied the method of data trusts to city data about Greater London Authority and Royal Borough of Greenwich
• Blog 15/04/2019
  

  Illegal wildlife trade pilot: What happened when we applied a data trust

  • Data infrastructure
  • Emerging tech and AI
  • Innovation
  • Public administration services
  • Science and research

  • Renate Samson

  What happened when we applied the method of data trusts to data about the illegal wildlife trade
• Blog 15/04/2019
  

  Data trusts: legal and governance considerations (report)

  • Data ethics and privacy
  • Data infrastructure
  • Emerging tech and AI
  • Innovation
  • Public administration services

  We explored the legal considerations for implementing a data trust
• Blog 15/04/2019
  

  Data trusts: what legal landscape do we need? (report)

  • Data ethics and privacy
  • Data infrastructure
  • Emerging tech and AI
  • Innovation
  • Public administration services

  We explored what legal landscape is necessary for implementing a data trust
• Blog 15/04/2019
  

  Food waste pilot: What happened when we applied a data trust

  • Agriculture and food
  • Data infrastructure
  • Emerging tech and AI
  • Innovation
  • Public administration services

  We piloted three uses for data trusts in the real world. Here is an overview of what happened when we applied the method to data about food waste
• Blog 15/04/2019
  

  Data trusts: how decisions are made about data sharing (report)

  • Data ethics and privacy
  • Data infrastructure
  • Emerging tech and AI
  • Innovation
  • Public administration services

  We explored the decision making processes in a data trust
• Blog, News 15/04/2019
  

  Huge appetite for data trusts, according to new ODI research

  • Emerging tech and AI
  • Innovation

  The ODI is today launching the findings of our data trust research programme and at high-profile event at the Royal Society of Arts, attended by Head of the UK Government Office for Artificial Intelligence (AI), Sana Khareghani and Theo Blackwell, London’s Chief Digital Officer
• Blog 15/04/2019
  

  Data trusts: will certification work? (report)

  • Data ethics and privacy
  • Data infrastructure
  • Emerging tech and AI
  • Innovation
  • Public administration services

  We explored whether certification could be the answer to evaluating a data trust’s processes against specific standards and norms
• Blog, News 11/04/2019
  

  From digital twins to open cities: find out about our new innovation projects

  • Arts, culture and heritage
  • Built environment and housing
  • Data ethics and privacy
  • Emerging tech and AI
  • Health and physical activity
  • Innovation
  • Public administration services
  • Retail and consumer
  • Science and research
  • Search and discovery
  • Startups
  • Transport
  • Weather, energy and environment

  • Miranda Marcus

  New innovation projects will explore how to use data to support vulnerable people, city data ecosystems and competitiveness through data
• Blog, News 21/03/2019
  

  Trust in data is 'new currency' for the Co-op

  • Agriculture and food
  • Data ethics and privacy
  • Data publishing and use
  • Innovation
  • Retail and consumer
  • Skills and literacy

  The Co-op share how they’re progressing against their mission to be ‘trusted with data’
• Blog, News 13/03/2019
  Furman Review: Access to data is a new tool against monopoly

  • Data infrastructure
  • Data publishing and use
  • Innovation

  • Peter Wells

  The ODI responds to the Digital Competition Expert Panel’s new report
• Blog, News, Tender opportunities 05/03/2019
  

  Invitation to tender: Study of the economic and social returns of 'Open standards for data'

  • Data publishing and use
  • Open standards and open APIs

  • Miranda Marcus

  Invitation to tender: Study of the economic and social returns of ‘Open standards for data’
• Blog, News, Tender opportunities 05/03/2019
  

  Invitation to tender: Study of the process and outcomes from the ODI's innovation programme

  • Innovation

  • Miranda Marcus

  Study of the economic and social returns from the ODI’s innovation programme, phase 2
• Blog 26/02/2019
  Convening the Data Trust Exploration Group

  • Data infrastructure
  • Data publishing and use

  • Jack Hardinges

  As part of our work on data trusts with the UK Government’s Office for AI, the ODI has assembled a group of 16 members from a range of organisations to contribute to the research
• Blog 22/02/2019
  

  Not Neutrality: What does fair really mean for service users?

  • Arts, culture and heritage
  • Public administration services

  Is there such a thing as a fair, neutral interface? ODI Research Artist in Residence Alistair Gentry considers the subjectivity of fairness in technology and services, and what that means for their design
• Blog 21/02/2019
  

  Open Data Day: Dr Dave is here to cure what ails you

  • Arts, culture and heritage
  • Built environment and housing
  • Data ethics and privacy
  • Emerging tech and AI
  • Health and physical activity
  • Innovation
  • Public administration services
  • Retail and consumer
  • Science and research
  • Search and discovery
  • Startups
  • Transport
  • Weather, energy and environment

  • Anna Scott
  • Dr Dave Tarrant
  • Hannah Foulds

  Poorly portal? Lice in your licence? Trust issues with Data Trusts? This Open Data Day, Dr Dave is here to answer your open data questions, however embarrassing…
• Blog, Guides 21/02/2019
  

  New tool for city leaders and urban planners to ‘get ready for data’

  • Public administration services
  • Cities

  • Fiona Smith
  • Leigh Dodds
  • Peter Wells

  ‘Get ready for data’ is a tool designed to help city leaders, officials and urban planners get ready to collect, use and manage data
• Blog 07/02/2019
  

  A match made in heaven: how ‘digital twins’ can help bring a better built environment

  • Data infrastructure

  • Leigh Dodds
  • Peter Wells

  Pairing physical roads, bridges and buildings with a ‘digital twin’ could be the key to more efficient decision-making, design and maintenance and increased safety
• Blog 07/02/2019
  

  The ODI and data trusts: how our projects will work

  • Data infrastructure
  • Data publishing and use

  • Jack Hardinges
  • Peter Wells
  • Vicky Hallam

  Alex Blandford explains how we’re going about our projects to explore how ‘data trusts’ could help to solve challenges by enabling increased access to data while retaining trust
• Blog 01/02/2019
  

  Using geospatial data: what you need to know about licences

  • Geospatial data and mapping

  • Deborah Yates

  We explore how geospatial data can be used to build new tools and services, and what licences are required
• Blog, News 31/01/2019
  

  UK’s first data trusts to tackle illegal wildlife trade and food waste

  • Data infrastructure
  • Data publishing and use
  • Cities

  • Anna Scott
  • Helen Desmond
  • Peter Wells

  We’re exploring how data trusts could solve challenges by enabling increased access to data while retaining trust
• Blog 31/01/2019
  

  Designing a data trust for London

  • Data ethics and privacy
  • Data infrastructure
  • Data publishing and use

  How data, sensors and a ‘data trust’ can help improve data services in Greenwich
• Blog 24/01/2019
  

  How do organisations perceive the risks of re-identification?

  • Data ethics and privacy

  • Sonia Duarte

  When publishing personal data, is anonymising the data foolproof? We’ve been exploring the challenges organisations face
• Blog, Videos 11/01/2019
  

  ODI Summit 2018: How can we design for fairness?

  • Data ethics and privacy
  • Data publishing and use

  • Ben Snaith

  How can data benefit everyone? Researcher Ben Snaith reflects on discussions from the ‘Designing for fairness’ panel at the ODI Summit 2018
• Blog, Guides 20/12/2018
  

  GeoJson schema publishing: a prototype

  • Data publishing and use
  • Geospatial data and mapping

  Using today’s tools for working with geospatial data, it is not possible to define data schemas for the properties section of a GeoJson file. We have been sketching how this could work in a publishing tool and would like feedback
• Blog, News 19/12/2018
  

  The ODI responds to the Digital Competition Expert Panel

  • Data infrastructure
  • Innovation
  • Retail and consumer

  • Lawrence Kay

  We respond to HM Treasury’s call for evidence on its Digital Competition Expert Panel, focusing on social benefits and the need for more data to fuel better services
• Blog 18/12/2018
  

  Exploring open geospatial data in local government

  • Geospatial data and mapping

  • Leigh Dodds

  Four local government projects will develop local geospatial data-enabled ideas after securing funding through our stimulus fund
• Videos 17/12/2018
  Video: Building trust in data and tech

  • Data ethics and privacy

  This panel at the ODI Summit addressed critical questions of trust in data and tech: why citizens’ and consumers’ trust is important to government and business, how it is built and nurtured, and how it can be measur
• Videos 17/12/2018
  Video: OpenStreetMap's view of the economic and humanitarian impact of geospatial data

  • Geospatial data and mapping

  Gregory Marler, Member of the Board of Directors at OpenStreetMap UK CIC, explores how publishing and using open geospatial data is creating value in the UK and around the world
• Blog 17/12/2018
  Join a group to openly explore data trusts

  • Peter Wells

  We are working with the UK government’s Office for AI to pilot the UK’s first data trusts and we plan to set up a working group to see if we can all learn together
• Blog 17/12/2018
  

  How Ukraine became an open data pioneer

  • Built environment and housing
  • Data infrastructure
  • Data publishing and use
  • Innovation
  • Public administration services
  • Cities

  • James Maddison

  Open data in Ukraine has progressed significantly in recent years, and it serves as an important case study of national and local government investing in and benefitting from open data
• Blog 12/12/2018
  

  Using data to change a sector: what we learned

  • Ben Snaith
  • Mike Rose

  Can data innovation help transform an entire sector?
• Blog 30/11/2018
  

  How can we scale up local data-enabled projects?

  • Built environment and housing
  • Data infrastructure
  • Data publishing and use
  • Innovation
  • Public administration services
  • Cities

  • Ben Snaith
  • James Maddison
  • Mike Rose

  Help us explore opportunities and barriers to replicating and scaling local data projects
• Blog, News 20/11/2018
  

  Lloyd’s Register Foundation and the ODI launch data initiative to make our railways, roads and power stations safer

  • Built environment and housing
  • Data infrastructure

  Using shared and open data to improve safety in our built infrastructure and across society
• Blog 20/11/2018
  

  'Dystopians just wanna have fun': ODI's artist in residence on need for openness and accountability

  • Arts, culture and heritage

  Why do data handlers get it wrong so often?
• Blog, News 20/11/2018
  

  We call on the government to work with Google, Apple and Uber to publish more map data and support the UK’s emerging technologies How geospatial data can support the UK’s emerging technologies
• Blog, Reports 20/11/2018
  

  The UK’s geospatial data infrastructure: challenges and opportunities (report)

  • Geospatial data and mapping

  We explore the different types of geospatial data and its economic value; technical and policy trends; and components of the UK’s geospatial data infrastructure
• Blog 20/11/2018
  

  What we learned from our survey of how local government is publishing and using geospatial data

  • Geospatial data and mapping

  • Leigh Dodds

  How are UK local government organisations engaging in the publication and use of geospatial data?
• Blog 20/11/2018
  

  How we’ve been exploring the geospatial sector

  • Deborah Yates
  • Leigh Dodds
  • Rebecca Ghani

  Find out how we’ve been engaging with the UK’s geospatial data community
• Blog, News 20/11/2018
  

  Geospatial data is infrastructure: our response to the UK's National Geospatial Strategy

  • Data infrastructure
  • Geospatial data and mapping

  • Jack Hardinges

  Our response to the Geospatial Commission’s call for evidence focuses on the need to recognise that geospatial data is infrastructure
• Blog, News 20/11/2018
  

  UK’s first ‘data trust’ pilots to be led by the ODI in partnership with central and local government

  • Data ethics and privacy
  • Emerging tech and AI

  We will lead two pilot projects with the Office for AI, examining how a “data trust” could increase access to data while retaining trust
• Blog 16/11/2018
  

  Exploring good common principles for a digital identity system

  • Data ethics and privacy
  • Retail and consumer

  • Ben Snaith
  • Peter Wells
  • Waverley Coquet

  We explore identity in a digital age, and an ethical and accessible framework for a digital identity system
• Blog 13/11/2018
  

  Even ‘dry’ data can mobilise citizens, says service design expert

  • Innovation
  • Public administration services
  • Cities

  We talk to service design expert Thomas Kohut about using design and data to create social impact, ahead of the ODI Summit
• Blog 12/11/2018
  

  Open research tools for R&D: how we commissioned and use them

  • Science and research

  • Miranda Marcus

  Steal our R&D tools and guides – published openly – and learn how we use them here at the ODI
• Blog 09/11/2018
  

  Anonymisation: the data controller's best friend, or cause for headaches?

  • Data ethics and privacy
  • Skills and literacy

  • Olivier Thereaux

  How useful is data anonymisation for compliance with data protection regulation? We try to unpick the confusion around the legalese twins of GDPR and the UK’s Data Protection Act
• Blog 06/11/2018
  

  Civil engineer and careers coach Georgia Thompson on the business benefits of diversity

  • Data ethics and privacy
  • Data infrastructure
  • Innovation
  • Skills and literacy

  • Anna Scott

  Georgia talks about how and why businesses should promote diversity 
• Blog 02/11/2018
  

  Data Access Archipelago: mapping the myriad ways we share data

  • Data publishing and use
  • Search and discovery

  • Jared Robert Keller

  For data holders looking to increase access to the data, there are many ‘data access models’ out there. This map is part of our effort to guide people and organisations looking to share data. We hope it will help navigate the complex world of data access
• Blog 26/10/2018
  

  Why businesses aren’t sharing more data

  • Data ethics and privacy
  • Data infrastructure
  • Data publishing and use
  • Innovation
  • Search and discovery
  • Startups

  Businesses can share data in many ways – they need to consider ethics, anonymisation and standards to do it right
• Blog 19/10/2018
  

  Defining a 'data trust'

  • Data infrastructure
  • Data publishing and use

  • Jack Hardinges
  • Peter Wells

  We’ve been investigating ‘data trusts’ as an approach to stewarding data, to retain trust in how it’s collected, maintained and shared
• Blog 18/10/2018
  

  Challenges in using blockchains to build trust in digital archiving

  • Emerging tech and AI

  • Jared Robert Keller

  Could blockchains ensure that our public archives are trusted, unaltered and auditable? Here’s what we discovered with the University of Surrey
• Blog 17/10/2018
  

  What we learned about personal data with the BBC

  • Public administration services
  • Search and discovery

  • Claire Selby
  • Peter Wells

  We have been working with the BBC to explore ideas around its public service mission, future data-powered services, and the shape of an internet that upholds public service values
• Blog 12/10/2018
  

  Behind the Curtain: art and the morality of gathering public information

  • Arts, culture and heritage
  • Data ethics and privacy
  • Data publishing and use
  • Emerging tech and AI

  ODI Embedded Artist in Residence Alistair Gentry considers trust, sharing and AI in data-rich online worlds
• Blog 12/10/2018
  

  Behavioural psychologist Patrick Fagan: ‘I turn minds into money’

  • Data ethics and privacy
  • Emerging tech and AI
  • Retail and consumer

  • Anna Scott

  Former Lead Psychologist at Cambridge Analytica talks with Anna Scott on trends in consumer behaviour, how it’s analysed in increasing sectors to influence people’s buying, voting, donating or traveling habits, and where he thinks responsibility and trust come in
• Blog 12/10/2018
  

  ODI R&D lead reflects on progress half-way through the programme

  • Innovation

  • Miranda Marcus

  Miranda Marcus reflects on what we have learnt so far, and where we are going
• Blog 11/10/2018
  

  The ODI responds to the Mayor of London’s consultation on the London Sport Strategy

  • Health and physical activity

  Here’s our response to the Mayor of London’s consultation on the London Sport Strategy
• Blog 08/10/2018
  

  Develop a business case for data-enabled public services

  • Innovation
  • Public administration services

  • Miranda Marcus

  How can local government teams make the business case for open data?
• Blog 05/10/2018
  

  Agile ethics pioneer Alix Dunn on why ‘moving fast and breaking things’ must not extend to ethics

  • Data ethics and privacy
  • Data infrastructure
  • Innovation
  • Public administration services
  • Startups

  • Alix Dunn
  • Anna Scott

  Alix says how organisations can adopt agile ethics and why diversity is so important
• Blog 04/10/2018
  

  How hard is it to publish good-quality open data?

  • Data publishing and use
  • Public administration services
  • Skills and literacy

  How hard is it to publish good-quality open data? Two publishers share their honest experiences
• Blog 28/09/2018
  

  ODI responds to Open Data Barometer Leaders Edition: ‘from promise to progress’

  • Data ethics and privacy
  • Data publishing and use
  • Peer networks

  • Anna Scott
  • Fiona Smith
  • Jeni Tennison
  • Peter Wells

  We note the need to invest in data infrastructure, ‘faltering’ leaders and the second wave of open data champions
• Blog 28/09/2018
  

  Creators of tools for open data? Steal this

  • Data publishing and use

  • Marina Peneva
  • Olivier Thereaux

  We’ve done some research into data publishers’ needs – we invite you to steal our ideas and collaborate with us
• Blog 24/09/2018
  

  The ODI responds to green paper: Modernising consumer markets

  • Retail and consumer

  • Jack Hardinges

  In July 2018 the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy invited responses to its green paper: Modernising consumer markets, and here’s our response
• Blog 23/09/2018
  

  An open future: how the National Institute for Health Research is opening up data

  • Health and physical activity

  Publishing open data about the funding of clinical research in England
• Blog 20/09/2018
  

  The ODI responds to call for evidence on mobility systems and related legislation

  • Transport

  • Jack Hardinges

  The ODI responds to the UK government’s call for evidence about the future of mobility
• Blog 18/09/2018
  

  The ODI responds to the consultation on the Centre for Data Ethics and Innovation

  • Data ethics and privacy

  • Jack Hardinges

  Here’s our response to the UK government’s consultation on the Centre for Data Ethics and Innovation
• Blog 14/09/2018
  

  Open data is on trend this London Fashion Week

  • Retail and consumer

  • Waverley Coquet

  Collecting and sharing data along the fashion supply chain can help reduce unethical practices in the fashion industry
• Blog 11/09/2018
  

  How can we predict the impact of data policy?

  • Data publishing and use
  • Public administration services
  • Search and discovery

  • Philip Horgan
  • Rebecca Ghani

  Predictive modelling could reveal the butterfly effects of data policies on the data economy
• Blog 05/09/2018
  

  As British Gas hikes prices, how can data standards transform the energy sector?

  • Emerging tech and AI
  • Innovation
  • Weather, energy and environment

  • Mike Rose

  How can a new data standard for energy help people move to a cheaper supplier?
• Blog 31/08/2018
  

  China’s digital silk road: data infrastructure for international trade?

  • Data infrastructure
  • Innovation
  • Cities

  • Josh D'Addario
  • Peter Wells
  • Waverley Coquet

  New initiatives might help data-enabled businesses decide where to export
• Blog 17/08/2018
  

  Data-driven healthcare website expands into new European markets

  • Startups

  Innovative website Pharawizard provides accurate, up-to-date health and medicine information to the Italian market
• Blog 14/08/2018
  

  How Facebook, Apple and Microsoft are contributing to an openly licensed map of the world

  • Data publishing and use
  • Geospatial data and mapping
  • Humanitarian response

  • Deborah Yates
  • Leigh Dodds

  Multinational organisations are collaborating in the open on OpenStreetMap
• Blog 10/08/2018
  

  The problem with social numbers driving self-worth

  • Arts, culture and heritage
  • Data ethics and privacy

  • Anna Scott

  Grime artist JME prompts us to think of what data can skew 
• Blog 09/08/2018
  

  Data's value: how and why should we measure it?

  • Data infrastructure
  • Data publishing and use
  • Innovation

  • Anna Scott
  • Ben Snaith
  • Peter Wells

  A lack of consensus is holding back innovation, governance and regulation
• Blog 09/08/2018
  

  Can data infrastructure help fix travel woes in the north of England?

  • Transport

  • Peter Wells

  Investment in data infrastructure can boost transport jobs and services
• Blog 03/08/2018
  

  State of the Map 2018: what we learned about open geospatial data

  • Geospatial data and mapping

  • Anna Scott
  • Deborah Yates
  • Leigh Dodds

  At this year’s conference we learned more on how OpenSteetMap data is used
• Blog 03/08/2018
  

  The ODI responds to House of Lords call for evidence into internet regulation

  • Data infrastructure
  • Data publishing and use
  • Public administration services

  Our response to the House of Lords Select Committee on the regulation of the internet, focussing on data and openness  
• Blog 02/08/2018
  

  Beyond ownership: we need better control and rights over data

  • Data ethics and privacy
  • Data publishing and use

  • Jeni Tennison

  Jeni Tennison’s short discussion paper on intellectual property and data ownership for the new UK Centre for Data Ethics and Innovation
• Blog 01/08/2018
  

  Sharing data for good in the peer-to-peer accommodation sector

  • Built environment and housing
  • Public administration services

  People feel comfortable sharing data about them if they understand the personal or societal benefits 
• Blog 25/07/2018
  

  Framing for our thinking about trust

  • Data ethics and privacy
  • Science and research

  What causes people concern around sharing data? Could it be that it is not only infrastructure, but also trust, that is essential for an open data future?
• Blog 18/07/2018
  

  Using open data tools to improve public services

  • Public administration services

  • James Maddison
  • Pauline L’Hénaff

  How can the public sector make better use of open data when delivering and designing services?
• Blog 16/07/2018
  

  Project powered by home sales open data wins two awards

  • Built environment and housing
  • Open standards and open APIs
  • Public administration services
  • Cities

  • Leigh Dodds

  Tom Forth, Head of Data at ODI Leeds and Leigh Dodds, Data Infrastructure Programme Lead at the ODI, discuss the importance of open geospatial data
• Blog 13/07/2018
  

  Jeni Tennison launches the ODI Strategy

  • Jeni Tennison

  Our strategy sets out our mission to work with companies and governments to build an open, trustworthy data ecosystem.
• Blog 10/07/2018
  

  What is a data trust?

  • Data ethics and privacy
  • Data infrastructure
  • Data publishing and use
  • Search and discovery

  • Jack Hardinges

  How ‘data trust’ is used, and how it can be used to increase data access while protecting trust
• Blog 09/07/2018
  

  Challenges announced for Data Pitch second open call

  • Ryan Goodman

  Applications are now live for the second open call for Data Pitch, giving European data startups another chance to join this groundbreaking accelerator programme which provides the opportunity to work alongside major corporates
• Blog 05/07/2018
  

  Who do we trust with personal data?

  • Leigh Dodds

  Attitudes towards sharing personal data vary across Europe, an ODI-commissioned survey has found
• Blog 03/07/2018
  

  The Data City in Leeds and Lille: measuring data innovation

  • Data infrastructure
  • Data publishing and use
  • Geospatial data and mapping
  • Innovation
  • Cities
  • Startups

  In this blog, we talk to project lead Tom Forth from The Data City to about find out more about The Data City in Lille and Leeds project – a project that takes innovation-measuring methodologies that have been successfully applied in the UK
• Blog 02/07/2018
  

  IoT and sensor-based systems in Manchester and Rennes

  • Built environment and housing
  • Emerging tech and AI
  • Innovation

  The KBF is a project involving the Internet of Things (IoT) communities in Rennes and Manchester, which aims to identify the opportunities and challenges around the use of sensor-based systems within older buildings, and to build a process for implementation.
• Blog 29/06/2018
  

  Mind the Gaps: quality-of-life and wellbeing data in the UK and France

  • Built environment and housing
  • Cities

  Mind the Gaps is an open toolbox to collect quality-of-life data is being developed and tested in Bristol and Bordeaux, and is part of ourthree collaborative UK–France projects    
• Blog 28/06/2018
  

  Open banking in the UK and France

  • Banking and finance
  • Innovation

  • Jack Hardinges

  The Open Data Institute is connecting data innovators across the UK and France and here we compare the approaches to open banking in France and the UK, and the role of the respective governments in supporting data portability.
• Blog 27/06/2018
  

  Connecting data innovators across UK and France

  • Banking and finance
  • Emerging tech and AI
  • Innovation
  • Transport

  As part of its innovation programme, the Open Data Institute has been building on the recommendations of the UK–France Data Innovation Task Force, to connect data innovators and data innovation across the UK and France.
• Blog 21/06/2018
  

  Find out how we are using ecosystem mapping to understand geospatial data ecosystems

  • Data infrastructure
  • Geospatial data and mapping

  • Jack Hardinges

  As part of our innovation programme, we’re working on mapping out geospatial data infrastructure in the UK.
• Blog 18/06/2018
  

  Open data a rubbish idea? Not in Leeds where a bin collection app is cleaning up

  • Public administration services

  A smart refuse app is transforming bin collection in Leeds, and serves as a brilliant example of the power of open data – but will other councils follow suit?
• Blog 13/06/2018
  Ordnance Survey and other data stewards must innovate to keep up with the private sector

  • Geospatial data and mapping
  • Public administration services

  • Jeni Tennison
  • Leigh Dodds
  • Peter Wells

  UK government announces a step forward in opening up geospatial data, but there is a lot more to do
• Blog 06/06/2018
  

  New rankings show UK’s most innovative tech clusters

  • Data infrastructure
  • Geospatial data and mapping
  • Innovation
  • Cities
  • Startups

  A new UK Tech Innovation Index shows the most active innovation communities in the UK by innovation categories, captured in an interactive map.
• Blog, News 06/06/2018
  

  Open call for an embedded artist

  • Arts, culture and heritage

  • Hannah Redler Hawes
  • Dr Julie Freeman

  We are inviting an artist to explore the concept of data trust and sharing
• Blog 11/05/2018
  

  How can we support the publication and use of more open geospatial data?

  • Data infrastructure
  • Geospatial data and mapping
  • Open standards and open APIs
  • Search and discovery

  • Leigh Dodds

  A new project explores how to unlock the potential of open geospatial data and technology
• Blog 11/05/2018
  

  Most data is about multiple people – what does that mean for data portability?

  • Anna Scott
  • Fiona Smith
  • Jack Hardinges
  • Jeni Tennison
  • Peter Wells

  Data portability is a new right, yet most data is about multiple people. What does this means for service designers and policymakers?
• Blog 10/05/2018
  

  How can tools support the use of open data to improve public services?

  • Data publishing and use
  • Public administration services
  • Cities
• Blog 03/05/2018
  

  ODI releases new research on registers: making lists we can trust

  • Data publishing and use

  • Leigh Dodds

  ODI Data Infrastructure Programme Lead, Leigh Dodds announces a new report exploring the definitions of a register, how to build trust through transparent stewardship and models of collaboration, written in partnership with OpenHealthcare and Democracy Club
• Blog, News 01/05/2018
  

  Mumsnet Founder Justine Roberts, and fintech expert Anna Mazzone join the ODI as Non-Executive Directors

  • Anna Mazzone
  • Justine Roberts

  The ODI is excited to welcome two new non Executive Directors to its board: Justine Roberts, CEO of Mumsnet, and Anna Mazzone, a Fintech and risk management specialist and current Managing Director at Aravo Solutions Inc.
• Blog 01/05/2018
  

  Startups help revolutionise access to sports and activity information

  • Data publishing and use
  • Health and physical activity
  • Open standards and open APIs
  • Cities
  • Startups

  • Richard Norris

  People across the UK will soon have nation-wide sport and physical activity information at their fingertips as 10 new startups join the OpenActive Accelerator, a groundbreaking new programme launched today by Sport England and the Open Data Institute (ODI)
• Blog 30/04/2018
  

  New service delivery models: four councils using open data for service redesign

  • Public administration services

  We awarded funding to four forward-thinking local government organisations to develop open data projects which explore how data could be used to improve public services – making them more efficient, innovative and citizen-focused.
• Blog 25/04/2018
  

  The ODI announces 2018 innovation programme projects

  • Data ethics and privacy
  • Data infrastructure
  • Data publishing and use
  • Geospatial data and mapping
  • Innovation
  • Peer networks
  • Public administration services

  New innovation projects span from increasing data access for new tech to building stronger data trade links
• Blog 25/04/2018
  

  Updating the Data Ethics Canvas

  • Data ethics and privacy
  • Data publishing and use
  • Skills and literacy

  • Anna Scott
  • Jack Hardinges
  • Peter Wells

  A few months after launching the first version of our Data Ethics Canvas and guide, it’s time for an update. Here’s what we’ve changed, why, and what we’re doing next
• Blog 24/04/2018
  

  Can we increase access to data while retaining trust?

  • Data ethics and privacy
  • Data infrastructure
  • Data publishing and use

  • Anna Scott
  • Jack Hardinges
  • Peter Wells

  A new ODI project aims to increase access to data while retaining trust. Here are some of the research questions to be explored
• Blog 19/04/2018
  

  Facebook scandal: let’s turn our attention from how data is collected to how it gets used

  • Data ethics and privacy
  • Innovation
  • Science and research

  • Fiona Smith
  • Jeni Tennison

  If we are not to cut ourselves off from the benefits data can bring, we must have controls, good governance and transparency over how data is used as well as what is collected and shared, say Jeni Tennison and Fiona Smith  
• Blog 19/04/2018
  

  Blockchain’s potential role in the future of archiving

  • Jared Robert Keller
• Blog 11/04/2018
  

  Data portability: the role governments should play

  • Data ethics and privacy
  • Data infrastructure

  • Jeni Tennison

  Jeni Tennison calls on governments around the world to ensure data portability supports open innovation and competition while preserving people’s privacy
• Blog 09/04/2018
  

  A year spent understanding the role of data in the peer-to-peer accommodation sector

  • Built environment and housing
  • Cities

  The ODI has been working to understand how data can improve the peer-to-peer accommodation market to support businesses and communities, and improve the experience of consumers.
• Blog, Guides 06/04/2018
  

  Explainer: What is personal data and how can I control how it's shared?

  • Data ethics and privacy

  • Alexandra Vryzakis
  • Anna Scott
  • Jack Hardinges
  • Jeni Tennison
  • Peter Wells

  How can data about me be collected, shared and used? Can I control where data about me goes? We demystify these questions and explain why we want stronger data rights  
• Blog, Reports 05/04/2018
  

  European data economies trade project: background research and mapping The report is a high-level analysis of the data economies of Germany, France, the Netherlands, and Belgium
• Blog 29/03/2018
  

  Jeni Tennison: ‘Getting paid for personal data won’t make things better’

  • Data ethics and privacy
  • Data infrastructure

  • Anna Scott
  • Jeni Tennison
  • Peter Wells

  Some think individuals should own data about them to ensure they fairly benefit from it. Some go as far as saying people should be paid when other organisations use it. In this post, Jeni Tennison looks at how we can share all in the benefits of personal data
• Blog 29/03/2018
  

  Building the future: opportunities for new services and stronger digital rights in telecoms and utilities

  • Data ethics and privacy
  • Data infrastructure
  • Innovation
  • Open standards and open APIs

  • Olivier Thereaux

  A new report outlining opportunities to drive innovation and transform the telecoms and utilities markets has been published today by the ODI and specialist digital rights consultancy IF
• Blog 24/03/2018
  

  No one owns data: we need to strengthen our rights

  • Data ethics and privacy
  • Data infrastructure

  • Anna Scott
  • Jeni Tennison
  • Peter Wells

  As the Cambridge Analytica story develops, many are arguing for data ownership. Alongside her interviews on BBC Breakfast and BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, here ODI CEO Jeni Tennison explains why we need a rights framework instead
• Blog 23/03/2018
  

  Creating ecosystem maps for open data

  • Data infrastructure
  • Peer networks

  The ODI has developed a new guide to help organisations identify and map data ecosystems. Izy Champion gives the rundown and asks for feedback on how it works and examples of your ecosystem maps for the tool  
• Blog 22/03/2018
  

  What does the Cambridge Analytica scandal mean for access to data?

  • Data ethics and privacy
  • Data infrastructure
  • Data publishing and use

  • Anna Scott
  • Jeni Tennison
  • Peter Wells

  With questions about the use and misuse of personal data high in the public’s mind, Jeni Tennison shares five takeaways on the implications for access to data for researchers
• Blog 08/03/2018
  Exploring interventions to support the peer-to-peer accommodation sector

  • Built environment and housing
  • Public administration services
  • Science and research
  • Cities

  • Jack Hardinges

  As part of the Open Data Institute’s innovation programme, we are working to understand how data can improve the peer-to-peer accommodation market to support businesses and communities, and improve the experience of consumers.
• Blog 02/03/2018
  

  Open Data Day: seven weird and wonderful open datasets

  • Data publishing and use

  • Alexandra Vryzakis
  • Anna Scott
  • Hannah Foulds

  Now that the Winter Olympics are over, #OpenDataDay is upon us! In order to celebrate publishing data that anyone can access, use or share we’re showcasing the quirkiest, funniest and most cat-filled open datasets out there in our very own Open Data Olympics
• Blog 01/03/2018
  

  Using open data for public services

  • Data infrastructure
  • Public administration services

  The ODI has conducted research into public services and the role open data plays in making them better and more cost effective. The findings give us new insights into the conditions needed to grow successful open data ecosystems for public service delivery.
• Blog 16/02/2018
  Open standards for data: adoption, approaches and impact

  • Data infrastructure
  • Open standards and open APIs
  • Search and discovery

  • Leigh Dodds

  Open standards are important to our data infrastructure. To mark the launch of new research, researchers Edafe Onerhime and Rose Rees-Jones share their findings on how people approach developing standards and what they need, and the impact of open data standards
• Blog 15/02/2018
  

  Will GDPR and data portability support innovation?

  • Banking and finance
  • Data ethics and privacy
  • Data infrastructure
  • Emerging tech and AI
  • Health and physical activity
  • Innovation
  • Retail and consumer

  • Jack Hardinges

  Imagine if you could let your doctor access data on your Fitbit, or if you could use your favourite Spotify playlist in iTunes. Data portability could make these things possible
• Blog, News 12/02/2018
  

  ODI survey reveals British consumer attitudes to sharing personal data

  • Data ethics and privacy
  • Health and physical activity
  • Retail and consumer

  The Open Data Institute has released findings from new consumer research, conducted online by YouGov, revealing current attitudes of British adults online towards sharing personal data. The full dataset can be viewed here under an open licence
• Blog 12/02/2018
  

  ODI's 5th Year: annual report

  • Jeni Tennison

  2017 was a year of transition for the ODI as we celebrated our fifth birthday and developed our plans for the next five years.
• Blog 25/01/2018
  

  Helping data publishers to improve open data: research and tools register

  • Data publishing and use
  • Search and discovery

  • Olivier Thereaux

  We spent a few months listening to data publishers and the people creating tools for them. Here’s what we learned
• Blog 18/01/2018
  Documenting the development of open standards for data

  • Open standards and open APIs

  • Leigh Dodds

  As part of the ODI’s innovation programme, a project is being run to help make it easier for people to create open standards for data. Here, Leigh Dodds explains the aims, how different approaches to standards development have been studied so far and what to expect from the projects in the next mont
• Blog 15/01/2018
  

  What do SMEs and startups need to succeed in open data innovation?

  • Startups

  With the flexibility to experiment and be more innovative, startups and SMEs are increasingly incorporating open data into their business models. In this blog, ODI Fellow Tom Wainwright explores what it takes for these organisations to succeed
• Blog 12/01/2018
  

  Opportunities for UK/France transport data: ODI workshop on 15 February

  • Transport

  • Marina Peneva

  As part of the ODI’s data innovation programme, we are exploring opportunities for collaboration in transport between France and the UK. Transport organisations in both countries are invited to participate in our workshop on 15 February
• Blog 12/01/2018
  

  Open banking: counting the steps towards a strong data infrastructure for the UK

  • Banking and finance
  • Data infrastructure

  • David Beardmore
  • Peter Wells

  Open banking gives consumers more control over data about them. This will change the sector and improve the services customers receive. Other countries and sectors will follow and build a better and more open future for data
• Blog 27/12/2017
  Open data training in Africa: lessons from the leaders network

  • Peer networks

  The African Open Data Leaders Network brought together public servants working in open data to help them develop their open data policies and communicate its value. 
• Blog 20/12/2017
  

  Using artificial intelligence and open data for innovation and accountability

  • Emerging tech and AI

  • Olivier Thereaux

  In the light of the UK’s new industrial strategy and budget, as well as the ODI’s recent participation in a House of Lords evidence session around how AI and personal data should be owned, managed, valued and used for the benefit of society, the ODI’s Head of Technology Olivier Thereaux examines our work in this area.
• Blog 15/12/2017
  

  Building resilient cities in Africa: lessons learned from ODI’s mini-grant projects Following the conclusion of the mini-grant programme, hear from three projects bringing citizens and governments together to improve Africa’s cities, with £6,000 and support from the ODI
• Blog, News 14/12/2017
  

  ODI welcomes UK National Infrastructure Commission recognition that data is infrastructure

  • Data infrastructure
  • Geospatial data and mapping
  • Transport

  • Leigh Dodds
  • Peter Wells

  ODI welcomes UK National Infrastructure Commission recognition of data as a new form of infrastructure and that open data is necessary for innovation.
• Blog 14/12/2017
  

  Assessing data literacy needs in government

  • Peer networks
  • Skills and literacy

  • Emily Vacher

  As part of its work with the OD4D-funded project Building an Africa Open Data Network (AODN), the ODI conducted a learning needs assessment of people working in government.
• Blog 06/12/2017
  

  The ODI launches three collaborative data innovation projects between the UK and France

  • Emerging tech and AI
  • Innovation
  • Peer networks
  • Public administration services
  • Science and research
  • Cities
  • Transport

  The ODI has kicked off three collaborative UK and France projects, which support ways to enhance data collaboration between the two countries.
• Blog 06/12/2017
  

  Research: what are the impacts of peer-to-peer accommodation platforms?

  • Built environment and housing
  • Innovation
  • Retail and consumer

  As part of the ODI’s innovation programme, a new project is looking into ways in which data can help to improve the peer-to-peer accommodation sector.
• Blog 05/12/2017
  

  What will the UK’s Geospatial Commission look like?

  • Data infrastructure
  • Geospatial data and mapping

  • Peter Wells

  The Autumn Budget included a commitment, building on that in the Conservative manifesto, that could lead to Ordnance Survey’s MasterMap data being made available as open data
• Blog, Reports 04/12/2017
  

  The EU General Data Protection Regulation: opportunities for grocery retail

  • Data ethics and privacy
  • Retail and consumer

  Our report explores how the retail sector can work together to turn GDPR from a compliance obligation into an opportunity to build services that meet shoppers needs.
• Blog 04/12/2017
  

  Four UK teams win funding to redesign public services with open data

  • Public administration services

  The ODI is working with four teams from different parts of the UK, to support them in redesigning specific public services with open data. 
• Blog 22/11/2017
  

  Autumn Budget: the ODI welcomes measures to open up land data – citizens, companies and services to benefit

  • Data infrastructure

  • Jeni Tennison
  • Sir Nigel Shadbolt

  By opening up mapping data – previously only accessible to large companies who could afford it – the UK government will enable small businesses, communities and citizens to use it, bringing wide benefits
• Blog 01/11/2017
  Why data-enabled insight is the key to an active nation

  • Health and physical activity
  • Startups

  • Richard Norris

  As nonprofit physical activity body ukactive this week launches the second iteration of its Fit-Tech accelerator ActiveLab, ukactive CEO Steven Ward explains how the benefits of open data can help tackle the global physical inactivity crisis
• Blog 26/10/2017
  Open Banking: we're looking for opportunities for collaboration

  • Banking and finance

  Open innovation will help drive efficiencies and competition in financial services through open standards and open data
• Blog 24/10/2017
  Exploring how data can improve PDFs: our work so far

  • Data infrastructure
  • Data publishing and use

  • Olivier Thereaux

  Having recently released research on how PDFs can work better with data, ODI Leeds Head of Data Tom Forth and ODI Head of Tech Olivier Thereaux share their working and aims for how the work may develop with input from the community
• Blog 23/10/2017
  

  ODI sport sector initiative OpenActive builds momentum

  • Health and physical activity

  • Richard Norris

  OpenActive, the ODI’s sport and physical activity sector initiative, has successfully established the foundations for open data to help people get active.
• Blog 19/10/2017
  UK parties must show voters their vision for data and technology

  • Data ethics and privacy
  • Data infrastructure
  • Emerging tech and AI

  UK parties need to use data and technology to improve local governments, economies and services across the country.
• Blog 18/10/2017
  Using data to build resilient cities in Africa: introducing ODI mini-grant projects

  • Humanitarian response

  In August, we announced the six projects shortlisted for our mini-grants programme, to implement data-enabled projects in Africa
• Blog 17/10/2017
  

  Improving the resilience of cities using open data

  • Data infrastructure
  • Cities

  As the population of cities is expected to grow, from being home to just over 50% of the world’s population in 2015 to 60% by 2030, finding innovative solutions to improving urban resilience becomes even more pressing
• Blog 17/10/2017
  ODI secures £6m to advance data innovation

  • Built environment and housing
  • Data ethics and privacy
  • Emerging tech and AI
  • Innovation
  • Open standards and open APIs
  • Public administration services
  • Cities
  • Transport

  The ODI will use the funds to focus on projects that it believes will progress strategically important areas: building data infrastructure, improving data literacy, stimulating data innovation and building trust in the use of data
• Blog 06/10/2017
  Open data publishing: towards better tools and processes

  • Emerging tech and AI
  • Search and discovery
  • Skills and literacy

  • Dr Dave Tarrant
  • Olivier Thereaux

  How the ODI can help organisations publish open data for the better
• Blog 05/10/2017
  ODI Toolbox application experiments: from Comma Chameleon to Data Curator

  • Emerging tech and AI

  ODI Code Fellow Stephen Fortune explains how the ODI Australian Network – an ODI Node – built on ODI Toolbox application Comma Chameleon’s code to enhance the application while working in the spirit of open source software development.
• Blog 13/09/2017
  Why we need the data ethics canvas

  • Data ethics and privacy
  • Science and research

  The Data Ethics Canvas is for organisations to identify and manage potential data ethics considerations
• Blog 29/08/2017
  Survey: What's your experience of solving problems with data? A survey looking to uncover the real problems people experience with data, and to help rectify the situation
• Blog 23/08/2017
  Improving public services with data: fund launched for service delivery redesign

  • Built environment and housing
  • Public administration services

  The ODI explores how using data better could transform public services and help them meet our needs as citizens
• Blog 23/08/2017
  How is peer-to-peer accommodation regulated around the world

  • Built environment and housing

  • Pauline L’Hénaff

  Regulation for peer-to-peer accommodation is being discussed around the world, but data isn’t being used effectively to inform, design and implement it. We are researching how data could be better used to help regulate the peer-to-peer accommodation sector. Here’s what we’ve learned so far.
• Blog 11/08/2017
  Ukraine Open Data Challenge: finalists revealed

  • Innovation

  • Richard Stirling
  • Steffica Warwick

  As part of a partnership between the Eurasia foundation and Ukrainian open data incubator 1991, the Transparency and Accountability in Public Administration and Services (TAPAS) organised a challenge event over one weekend to help Ukrainian startups innovate with open data.
• Blog 11/08/2017
  How could data be used better to help regulate peer-to-peer accommodation?

  • Built environment and housing
  • Transport

  • Pauline L’Hénaff

  The ODI is going to develop and prototype new models of gathering and using data for regulation in the peer-to-peer accommodation sector
• Blog 11/08/2017
  Building open data capacity in Tanzania - the support of two years of training

  • Mahadia Tunga

  As part of our mission to help businesses and governments around the world get data to people who need it, we have worked with the World Bank over the last two years to provide training and support to the Tanzania Open Data Initiative
• Blog 07/08/2017
  Using open data for economic impact in Nigeria Last year in Edo State, Nigeria, the Edo AgriHub project (EDAH) began to solve problems in agriculture by improving data collection. Nkechi Okwuone, EDAH project manager, reflects on managing the project and plans for future
• Blog, Guides 05/08/2017
  

  The Data Ethics Canvas

  • Data ethics and privacy
  • Data infrastructure
  • Data publishing and use
  • Public administration services
  • Skills and literacy

  The ODI has developed a new approach for organisations to identify and manage data ethics considerations: the Data Ethics Canvas
• Blog 04/08/2017
  Open Call: Open Data Leaders' Network 9-13 October 2017 The ODLN calls for applicants working with open data in government to take part in an exciting five-day programme in London full of expert-led training, field trips and peer support
• Blog 03/08/2017
  Calling startups in ASEAN solving problems with data!

  • Startups

  Are you a startup or social enterprise solving real-life problems with data? Apply to join the ASEAN programme
• Blog 31/07/2017
  Where are the UK's most active tech innovation cities

  • Emerging tech and AI

  • Anna Scott

  An interesting analysis on where British innovation is flourishing and across which sectors  
• Blog 25/07/2017
  The ODI hosts finalists of the Open Contracting Innovation Challenge

  • Innovation
  • Public administration services

  Key learnings from the incubation phase of the Open Contracting Innovation Challenge
• Blog 21/07/2017
  ODI/OD4D Mini-Grants

  • Agriculture and food

  Shortlist announced for the Open Data for Developing Network initiative
• Blog 19/07/2017
  Applications now open for new Europe-wide data accelerator Data accelerator opportunity for startups looking to solve business problems and innovate their products/services
• Blog 11/07/2017
  Help us to understand how people understand and describe data

  • Science and research
  • Search and discovery

  Have you been involved in a project about data? If so, get in touch
• Blog 07/07/2017
  Meet ODI Code Fellow Stephen Fortune

  • James Smith (Dr)

  Stephen tells us a bit about his journey from ODI Labs intern to code fellow, how embracing the ‘developer’s mindset’ and collaborative maintenance helps him look after the ODI Toolbox 
• Blog 27/06/2017
  Open call: Organisation to conduct survey on personal data in the UK retail sector

  • Data ethics and privacy

  Are you or your organisation interested in helping the retail sector understand shoppers’ expectations?
• Blog 23/06/2017
  The value of open data for the private sector

  • Data infrastructure
  • Innovation
  • Retail and consumer
  • Skills and literacy

  • David Beardmore

  How the private sector need to continue embracing open data for a fair and sustainable data economy
• Blog 22/06/2017
  The New Observatory: A creative collaboration between FACT and the ODI

  • Hannah Foulds
  • Dr Julie Freeman

  The exhibition brings together an array of artists exploring new and alternative modes of measuring, predicting and sensing the world
• Blog 22/06/2017
  Observatories of ourselves

  • Anna Scott
  • Hannah Foulds
  • Hannah Redler Hawes

  The exhibition co-produced with Fact, Liverpool makes one think what the roles of analysis, understanding and imagination have in a world of constant observation
• Blog 21/06/2017
  The ODI 5 years on: a time to celebrate and reflect

  • Jeni Tennison
  • Mahadia Tunga
  • Sir Nigel Shadbolt

  The ODI’s first five years, through the eyes of CEO, Jeni Tennison
• Blog 14/06/2017
  Six Open Contracting Innovation Challenge finalists win $5k ahead of $30k Grand Prize

  • Innovation

  OCIC was launched to stimulate and gather ideas that strengthen the integrity and effectiveness of public procurement
• Blog 08/06/2017
  Testing the Data Ethics Canvas: what we've learned

  • Data ethics and privacy

  • Ellen Broad

  The canvas exists to help organisations consider data ethics as they develop data projects and services
• Blog 07/06/2017
  ODI mini-grant programme: open call for open data innovators in Africa

  • Agriculture and food
  • Humanitarian response

  Opportunity available to lead a project to solve problems with data in Africa
• Blog 05/06/2017
  'Late to the game' but committed: Malaysia's open data 'change agent' on challenging cultural norms and plans for the future

  • Anna Scott

  MAMPU drive for open data is in keeping with the country’s ICT plan for 2016-2020, which calls for a boom in data-driven initiatives.
• Blog 05/06/2017
  Open Data Pathway: introducing country-level statistics

  • Leigh Dodds

  Over 290 organisations are using the Open Data Pathway and over 100 assessments have been completed. The statistics provide a great source of data to assess the state and progress of open data practices globally
• Blog 02/06/2017
  The UK is failing to debate the role technology plays in our future

  • Emerging tech and AI
  • Public administration services
  • Transport

  • Anna Scott

  In this blog, we talk about what is in the manifestos of the biggest political parties and what is conspicuous in its absence from them, as well as the general election debate: the role technology plays in our future.
• Blog 25/05/2017
  Open Data Barometer: now more than ever, we must strengthen open data initiatives across the world

  • Data infrastructure

  • Fiona Smith

  Three ways that Governments can ensure open data benefits everyone
• Blog 10/05/2017
  Open letter to parties: publish candidate data and be open about use of personal data

  • Data ethics and privacy
  • Public administration services

  • Jeni Tennison

  An open letter to political parties asking them to enhance their practice in two simple ways, in the run-up to the general election
• Blog 05/05/2017
  Open Contracting Innovation Challenge hosts its first international meetup in Kiev The ODI’s Innovation Consultant recounts the first international meetup of the challenge held in Ukraine
• Blog 03/05/2017
  UK general election: how data can and should inform our decisions

  • Data ethics and privacy
  • Data infrastructure

  Data infrastructure, skills and open innovation are vital to realise the full value of data. Ethics, engagement and equity need to be addressed to build trust in data
• Blog 26/04/2017
  African Open Data Leaders Network: an open call for outstanding government leaders

  • Peer networks

  The AODLN programme is calling for African leaders of open initiatives to take part in two day programme.
• Blog 18/04/2017
  Open call: Open Contracting Innovation Challenge

  • Public administration services

  How would you use data to strengthen the integrity and effectiveness of public procurement?
• Blog 13/04/2017
  ‘Bring Open Data to Your School’: connecting teens with open data in Argentina

  • Data infrastructure

  A case study on one of projects supported by the ODI’s mini-grants programme
• Blog 12/04/2017
  Briefing paper: UK government must support data sharing and open data in transport

  • Built environment and housing
  • Data infrastructure
  • Transport

  • Louise Burke

  Insight into how the government can support Intelligent Mobility with data
• Blog 10/04/2017
  Data Pitch: a new Europe-wide data accelerator launches today

  • Innovation

  Data Pitch is a new European-funded project bringing together established businesses and startups to meet today’s challenges with data
• Blog 04/04/2017
  Sir Tim Berners-Lee, ODI Co-Founder, awarded prestigious Turing Award Sir Tim Berners-Lee, ODI Co-founder, and Professor at Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the University of Oxford, has today been awarded the 2016 ACM A.M. Turing Award by The Association for Computing Machinery.
• Blog 27/03/2017
  Open call: Open Data Champions Programme – 22-24 May 2017 Do you work in open data in the public sector in Europe? If so, explore our latest programme
• Blog 23/03/2017
  Call for proposals: LMAO 😹

  • Dr Julie Freeman

  Data as Culture is the art programme for the Open Data Institute. Exhibitions take place in the working environment, alongside ODI staff and visitors
• Blog 15/03/2017
  The ODI’s international startup network comes to South-East Asia

  • Startups

  • Emma Truswell
  • Richard Stirling

  The first cohort of the ASEAN Data Startup Accelerator in Kuala Lumpur
• Blog 03/03/2017
  When an international partnership works: growing open data startups in Mexico

  • Data infrastructure
  • Humanitarian response
  • Startups

  • Emma Truswell

  Building business, creating an interconnected support system and forging friendships in Mexico
• Blog 01/03/2017
  Open Data Day: how to build a strong data economy

  • Data infrastructure

  • Jeni Tennison

  Governments and the private sector need to consider the roles of equity, ethics and engagement in the push for a stronger data economy
• Blog 28/02/2017
  Guest post: African countries level playing field with oil and gold corporations

  • Humanitarian response

  How to tackle the problem using publicly available, open data
• Blog 16/02/2017
  How can open data portals become sustainable?

  • Search and discovery

  Making data discoverable through multiple portals will help maximise its value
• Blog 15/02/2017
  Open Inheritance Art project reveals 36,000 rarely seen private heritage artworks you can visit

  • Arts, culture and heritage

  • Anna Scott
  • Hannah Foulds

  Open Inheritance Art is designed to improve and enrich HMRC’s data, by allowing people to flag missing or outdated information that can be directly fed back to HMRC
• Blog 10/02/2017
  Tribute to Hans Rosling

  • James Smith (Dr)

  The work of Swedish data evangelist Hans Rosling has inspired many of us at the ODI, so here are some of our own reflections on how he’s influenced us and our mission
• Blog 07/02/2017
  Guest post: How can gathering data help curb social exclusion? ODI Associates Mar Santamaria Varas and Pablo Martinez Diez from 300.000 Km/s, discuss how analogue-to-digital tools can improve large-scale data collection processes in cities, helping to combat homelessness and social exclusion
• Blog 27/01/2017
  Policy design patterns that help you use data to create impact

  • Innovation

  The ODI has created open design patterns to help government policy makers see how data could be used to create impact
• Blog 13/01/2017
  Strengthening our legal data infrastructure

  • Data infrastructure

  The ODI and Thompson Reuters investigate how to enhance data sharing in legal sector
• Blog 11/01/2017
  Wasting less and giving more: charities and funders unite with better data

  • Humanitarian response

  How data made open by funders will help cut waste and raise funds for charitable organisations
• Blog 05/01/2017
  The future of transport? Shared services built on data

  • Built environment and housing
  • Innovation
  • Public administration services
  • Transport

  How open data could play a pivotal role in the way we travel
• Blog 08/12/2016
  

  Improving the resilience of cities using open data

  • Cities
  • Weather, energy and environment

  By Jessica Weereratne As the population of cities is expected to grow, from being home to just over 50% of the world’s population in 2015 to 60% by 2030, finding innovative solutions to improving urban resilience becomes even more pressing.
• Blog 23/11/2016
  Autumn Statement: UK must recognise the need to strengthen data infrastructure

  • Data infrastructure

  • Anna Scott
  • Peter Wells

  Data is vital infrastructure for our society and a competitive advantage for a 21st century economy. It is an under-recognised piece of critical national infrastructure that needs government focus and support.
• Blog 22/11/2016
  

  Legislation.gov.uk: improving the UK digital statute book through collaborative maintenance

  • Data infrastructure
  • Data publishing and use
  • Public administration services
  • Search and discovery

  This case study shows how legislation.gov.uk went about solving the problem of providing up-to-date legislation
• Blog 09/11/2016
  

  Data is critical national infrastructure – let’s make it open and secure

  • Data infrastructure

  The ODI calls on government to ensure that as it develops its digital strategy and the National Cybersecurity Strategy, it does not overlook the need for strong, effective and secure data infrastructure  
• Blog 31/10/2016
  

  The ODI and Sport England getting the UK more active

  • Health and physical activity
  • Startups

  • Richard Norris

  The Open Data Institute and Sport England are announcing a new collaboration at the ODI Summit in London today. They will work together to improve and open up information about physical activity and sporting opportunities across England
• Blog 21/10/2016
  

  Guest post: what would the open data utopia actually look like?

  • Built environment and housing
  • Data ethics and privacy
  • Data infrastructure
  • Open standards and open APIs

  Alex Starritt speaks with some open data leaders about the steps we need to take to reach an open data utopia 
• Blog 18/08/2016
  

  How do we 'own' data?

  • Data ethics and privacy
  • Data infrastructure
  • Data publishing and use

  • Ellen Broad

  We live in an age of data abundance. We produce data every day – as people, businesses, charities and governments – that might be used to generate valuable insights and services. Ellen Broad explores data ownership in this age of abundance
• Blog 10/08/2016
  

  We need to learn how to search the web of data

  • Data infrastructure
  • Data publishing and use
  • Search and discovery

  • Peter Wells

  Search for the web of data is still in the portal era, but portals do not meet all user needs. Imagine a world where you could search for, find, understand, trust and use data as easily as you can for news
• Blog, Reports 07/08/2016
  

  Who owns our data infrastructure?

  • Data infrastructure

  In this paper we explore the question “who owns our data infrastructure – globally, nationally and locally?” We look at what data ownership looks like and what we can expect from those that manage data that is fundamental to a functioning society
• Blog 24/06/2016
  

  Data knows no boundaries
• Blog, Reports 20/04/2016
  Research: The economic value of open versus paid data

  • Innovation

  New economic research commissioned by the ODI shows that across all core public sector data assets open data will provide 0.5% of GDP more economic value every year than data that users have to pay for
• Blog 19/04/2016
  

  Guest post: Putting forgotten communities back on the map with open data

  • Data infrastructure
  • Geospatial data and mapping

  How do official boundaries impact on the services, representation and livelihoods that they fall on? Mike Thacker from Porism explains how to put communities back on the map
• Blog 19/01/2016
  

  Comment: Blockchain technology is useful, but not for everything

  • Emerging tech and AI

  • James Smith (Dr)
  • Jeni Tennison
  • Peter Wells

  The Government Chief Scientific Advisor is exploring blockchain technologies. We welcome the focus on data infrastructure but call for more scrutiny of risks, less hype and a focus on using blockchains to solve challenges
• Blog 11/12/2015
  What is the impact of blockchains on privacy?

  • Data ethics and privacy
  • Emerging tech and AI

  • Jeni Tennison

  Data stored in blockchains cannot be changed, which means that personal data they contain cannot be removed. Jeni Tennison, the ODI’s Technical Director, explains why it’s really important that we design blockchains to protect people’s privacy.
• Blog 21/10/2015
  

  Data infrastructure technology: are blockchains the answer?

  • Data infrastructure
  • Emerging tech and AI

  • James Smith (Dr)

  How do we make sure data infrastructure is always available, and always trustworthy? Are blockchains the answer?
• Blog 13/10/2015
  

  Natural History Museum: 'We hope people will discover new species with our open data'

  • Arts, culture and heritage

  By digitising and releasing its collection of 80 million specimens for anyone to access, the Natural History Museum engages people around the world to discover, analyse and even 3D print them
• Blog, Guides 27/09/2015
  Open Data Maturity Model

  • Data publishing and use

  The Open Data Maturity Model is a way to assess how well an organisation publishes and consumes open data, and identifies actions for improvement.
• Blog, Guides 06/08/2015
  

  Five stages of data grief

  • Data infrastructure
  • Data publishing and use

  • Jeni Tennison

  The ODI has developed a new approach for organisations to identify and manage data ethics considerations: the Data Ethics Canvas
• Blog, News 15/07/2015
  

  Citymapper executive to governments: 'Open more data so we can improve your cities'

  • Data infrastructure
  • Innovation

  • Anna Scott

  The size and number of businesses built on open data is growing every year. Citymapper is one of the best-known open data success stories
• Blog 25/06/2015
  

  How can open data help improve healthcare? We look at six healthcare-related datasets that are published as open data
• Blog 19/06/2015
  

  Beyond the smart city: why our needs extend beyond where we live

  • Agriculture and food
  • Cities

  How can cities and rural areas learn from each other? Our common needs shed light on what really matters in smart programmes: people and planet, says Simon Gough
• Blog 13/03/2015
  Burkina Faso's data revolution: government transition to open data

  • Humanitarian response
  • Peer networks
  • Cities

  • Liz Carolan

  The Avenue de l’Indépendance in Ouagadougou is home to the neat 2- and 3-storey buildings that house most of Burkina Faso’s government ministries. Halfway down the street this order gives way to the charred remains of what was, until 30 October of last year, the House of Parliament.
• Blog, Guides 27/02/2015
  How To Use R To Access Data On The Web

  • Data publishing and use
  • Search and discovery

  Analysing or using data without software is incredibly cumbersome if not impossible. Here we show you how you can import data from the web into a tool called R. Reasons why R has become so popular, and continues to grow, are that it’s free, open source, with state-of-the-art practices and a fantastic community.
• Blog, Guides 18/12/2014
  What is a CSV? A case study of CSVs on data.gov.uk

  • Data publishing and use

  • Jeni Tennison

  CSV stands for comma-separated values. It is a simple format for tabular data and relatively easy to process. We analysed more than 20,000 links to CSV files on data.gov.uk – only around one third turned out to be machine-readable.
• Blog 27/02/2014
  

  Fig Data 11 Tips How Handle Big Data R And 1 Bad Pun

  • Emerging tech and AI

  In our latest project, Show me the Money, we used close to 14 million rows to analyse regional activity of peer-to-peer lending in the UK. Conventional tools such as Excel fail (limited to 1,048,576 rows), which is sometimes taken as the definition of Big Data. Then again, I recently heard one of the leading experts, Ken Cukier, say: “there is no definition of big data”.
• Blog 11/01/2014
  2014: The year of CSV

  • Data publishing and use

  • Jeni Tennison

  Jeni Tennison’s goal in 2014 was to make it easier for developers to use tabular data
• Blog 18/04/2013
  A cornerstone for open data: the Postcode Address File

  • Sir Nigel Shadbolt
• Blog 18/04/2013
  PAF decision "flies in the face" of government commitments

  • Emma Thwaites