How we can help

Blogs and guides

• Blog 09/03/2021
  

  How trust is a key to the value of data

  • Data infrastructure
  • Data publishing and use

  • Olivier Thereaux

  Trust matters to a healthy data ecosystem, but how much does it matter? We worked with Frontier Economics to find out
• Blog 04/03/2021
  

  Longlist and shortlist announced for Microsoft Education Open Data Challenge

  • Data infrastructure
  • Data publishing and use
  • Skills and literacy

  • Alex Vryzakis
  • Tara Lee

  We introduce the entries for the Education Open Data Challenge award, launched at the ODI Summit 
• News, Reports 11/02/2021
  

  Accelerating progress on tackling the climate crisis through data collaboration

  • Data infrastructure
  • Data publishing and use
  • Weather, energy and environment

  • Annalisa Eichholzer
  • Diana Szasz

  In this paper, we explore priority areas within climate change where there is a significant opportunity to accelerate progress by increasing collaboration around data
• Blog, News 01/02/2021
  

  The ODI's written evidence for APPG on Artificial Intelligence

  • Data infrastructure
  • Data publishing and use
  • Policy

  • Dr Mahlet (Milly) Zimeta
  • Jack Hardinges
  • Jeni Tennison

  Our written evidence for the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Artificial Intelligence (APPG AI)’s evidence session ‘Data Governance in the Post-Brexit Era: Is the National Data Strategy ambitious enough?’
• Case study, Case study [Luminate] 29/01/2021
  

  Case study: The value of data sharing in the private sector

  • Data infrastructure
  • Data publishing and use
  • ODI Inside Business

  • Josh D'Addario

  We examine the barriers faced by private sector businesses in justifying sharing data, find examples of where those barriers have been successfully overcome, and explore the benefits derived for all businesses from sharing data
• Blog 29/01/2021
  

  What are data institutions and why are they important?

  • Data publishing and use
  • Policy

  • Jack Hardinges
  • Dr Jared Robert Keller

  In order to explore data institutions, it’s important to first understand the concept of data stewardship and how it fits into our theory of change. In this blog, we explain the concept of data stewardship, what data institutions are and the vital roles they play
• Blog 20/01/2021
  

  Exploring how new data access initiatives approach data landscaping

  • Data infrastructure
  • Data publishing and use

  • Josh D'Addario

  We have been exploring how new data access initiatives develop the data infrastructure they need to tackle a specific challenge, as part of our ongoing research project ‘Data infrastructure for common challenges’
• Blog, Reports 20/01/2021
  

  Infrastructure for common challenges [report]

  • Data infrastructure
  • Data publishing and use

  • Elea Himmelsbach
  • Flor Serale
  • James Maddison
  • Josh D'Addario

  In this report, we summarise our initial user needs research on data access initiatives, sharing insights into the challenges these initiatives encounter and how design tools can help them build the data infrastructure they need to be successful
• Archived tender opportunities, Blog 11/01/2021
  

  Call for proposals: Data analysis support for data institutions census

  • Data publishing and use

  Help the ODI conduct a review/census of the current and future landscape of data institutions and develop a first iteration of a register of these institutions in the UK
• Blog, Consultation response/call for evidence, News 11/01/2021
  

  The ODI's response to Ofcom's consultation on Open Communications

  • Data ethics and privacy
  • Data infrastructure
  • Data publishing and use
  • Innovation
  • Retail and consumer

  • Josh D'Addario

  Here’s our response to Ofcom’s consultation on Open Communications
• Blog, Case study, Case study [Luminate] 08/01/2021
  

  Case study: Collaborative data maintenance

  • Arts, culture and heritage
  • Data infrastructure
  • Data publishing and use
  • Peer networks
  • Science and research
  • Skills and literacy

  • Rachel Wilson

  Find out about our R&D project exploring best-practice approaches to collaborative data maintenance
• Guides 23/12/2020
  

  Using identifiers

  • Data infrastructure
  • Data publishing and use

  This guide describes the key features or processes of an identifier scheme – the tool, its governance (including how identifiers are assigned) and use
• Blog, Explainers 23/12/2020
  

  What is an identifier?

  • Data infrastructure
  • Data publishing and use

  Identifiers are part of how we make sense of the world and communicate. They act as labels to help us uniquely identify physical and digital objects and services, and as pointers to information available online or stored in a variety of databases and systems
• Blog, News 15/12/2020
  

  The six data collaborations chosen for our new peer learning network

  • Data infrastructure
  • Data publishing and use
  • Peer networks

  The ODI has selected six collaborations who will receive funding and guidance from the ODI and Microsoft, to more effectively address the challenges they face
• Reports 13/12/2020
  

  Comparing decentralised data publishing initiatives [report]

  • Data publishing and use

  This report explores a common design pattern for increasing access to data through the adoption of open standards for data. It compares how it is being applied across 14 different initiatives and shares insights into how this approach can be used.
• Blog 01/12/2020
  

  Exploring sustainable data access: RegulAItion and the AIR Platform

  • Banking and finance
  • Data ethics and privacy
  • Data publishing and use
  • Emerging tech and AI

  We reflect on the first phase of our research project with RegulAItion, and set out our plans for the second phase. If you are an organisation in the BALI sectors, come join the research project.
• Blog 25/11/2020
  

  Understanding the common technical infrastructure of shared and open data

  • Data infrastructure
  • Data publishing and use

  • Olivier Thereaux
  • Timothy Hill

  As part of our research on data institutions, the ODI is embarking on a new project exploring their technical infrastructure
• Archived tender opportunities, Blog, News 18/11/2020
  

  Call for proposals: Funding to develop open source tools for data institutions

  • Data infrastructure
  • Data publishing and use

  • Olivier Thereaux

  We are requesting project proposals aiming to improve the quality and interoperability of open source tools relevant to data access and data sharing initiatives, with funding of up to £15,000 available
• Blog 09/11/2020
  

  Activating sector change: what we’ve learnt from OpenActive

  • Data publishing and use
  • Health and physical activity

  • Ellen Goodman
  • Orsola De Marco

  We reflect on the lessons we have learnt through OpenActive, a data access initiative driving innovation in the sport and physical activity sector
• Blog, Podcast 05/11/2020
  

  The ODI interviewed on Reasons to be Cheerful podcast

  • Data ethics and privacy
  • Data infrastructure
  • Data publishing and use
  • Emerging tech and AI
  • Innovation
  • Policy

  • Jack Hardinges

  Our very own Jack Hardinges, Head of Data Institutions, was on Ed Millband’s and Geoff Lloyd’s podcast, Reasons to be Cheerful, this week to discuss ideas about how to help steward data for the common good
• Blog 29/10/2020
  

  Towards collaboration between data institutions and philanthropy

  • Data publishing and use
  • Skills and literacy

  • Jack Hardinges
  • Vilas Dhar

  Data institutions have an important role to play in helping us tackle the challenges and issues of our time. In this article, we explore the relationship between data institutions and philanthropic capital
• Blog 27/10/2020
  

  The UK National Data Strategy 2020: equity, fairness and rights

  • Data infrastructure
  • Data publishing and use
  • Innovation
  • Policy

  • Dr Mahlet (Milly) Zimeta
  • Josh D'Addario

  Access to data and information promotes fair competition and informed markets, and empowers people as consumers, creators and citizens. How could this principle be realised in a national data strategy?
• Blog, News 26/10/2020
  

  Winners – ODI Writers' Fund for Black History Month 2020

  • Arts, culture and heritage
  • Data publishing and use
  • Science and research

  We’re delighted to share three pieces of writing by winners of our Black History Month Writers’ Fund, chosen by Yassmin Abdel-Magied, Rob Berkeley, Dr Mahlet (Milly) Zimeta and Sir Nigel Shadbolt
• Blog 26/10/2020
  

  The dividing line: how we represent race in data

  • Arts, culture and heritage
  • Data publishing and use
  • Science and research

  This essay was written by Eleanor Shearer as part of our ODI Writers’ Fund for Black History Month 2020. Eleanor explores the difficult relationship between data and race, and puts forward three important questions researchers should be asking themselves when collecting data around race
• Blog 26/10/2020
  

  Tackling climate change challenges through data access – Microsoft and the ODI

  • Agriculture and food
  • Built environment and housing
  • Covid-19
  • Data publishing and use
  • Transport

  • Diana Szasz

  As part of our global partnership with Microsoft, we have been conducting research into climate change to identify priority areas for increased access to data through data collaborations
• ODI Inside Business series 19/10/2020
  

  ODI Inside Business – a checklist for leaders

  • Data ethics and privacy
  • Data publishing and use
  • ODI Inside Business

  • Simon Bullmore
  • Stuart Coleman

  This checklist is a starting point for anyone who wants to provide leadership in their business when it comes to data
• Blog 13/10/2020
  

  Matchmakers of the data world: how 'data intermediaries' can bring decision makers and data together to help combat Covid-19

  • Data publishing and use

  • Fionntán O'Donnell
  • Rebecca Ghani

  Access to data is essential to support effective and swift decisions around Covid-19, making the role of the data intermediaries more important than ever
• Blog, News 12/10/2020
  

  The ODI partners with RegulAItion to collaborate on breakthrough platform

  • Data ethics and privacy
  • Data publishing and use
  • Emerging tech and AI
  • Skills and literacy

  Data platform company RegulAItion has partnered with the Open Data Institute (ODI) to collaborate on its breakthrough data access and collaboration platform, which aims to ‘enable automated, scalable, repeatable and responsible data access and collaboration for regulated industries’.
• Reports 30/09/2020
  

  Demonstrating and assessing trustworthiness when sharing data

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

  • Elea Himmelsbach
  • Fionntán O'Donnell
  • Dr Jared Robert Keller
  • Olivier Thereaux
  • Sonia Duarte

  How can people and organisations trust others when sharing data? This report finds that while third-party certifications and audits are useful, alternative approaches can also be effective
• Blog, Reports 28/09/2020
  

  Open communications: an open trustworthy data ecosystem for the telecommunications sector [report]

  • Data ethics and privacy
  • Data infrastructure
  • Data publishing and use
  • Innovation
  • Open standards and open APIs
  • Retail and consumer

  • Josh D'Addario

  Find out about the potential of data portability in telecommunications: our report examines the potential benefits and risks of sharing more data about use of communications services

Events

• Talk
  Friday lunchtime lecture: Better organisation identifiers through a decentralised list of lists Fri, 01 Dec 2017, 13:00 Open Data Institute, 65 Clifton Street, London, EC2A 4JE

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

  Tim Davies will explore the creation and use of org-id.guide, a collaboratively created register of organisation identifier lists
• Talk
  

  Friday lunchtime lecture: Rob's comedy bots Fri, 06 Oct 2017, 13:00 Open Data Institute, 65 Clifton Street, London, EC2A 4JE

  • Data publishing and use

  Rob Manuel will show you how it works and make you want to make your own horrible bots since, as Rob says, frankly it’s more fun than doing anything you’re meant to be spending your time doing
• Talk
  

  Friday lunchtime lecture: Is open data and journalism a match doomed to fail? Fri, 08 Sep 2017, 13:00 Open Data Institute, 65 Clifton Street, London, EC2A 4JE

  • Data publishing and use

  In 2015, Jonathan Stoneman wrote a working paper “Does Open Data Need Journalism?” to show how things were slowly changing
• Talk
  

  Friday lunchtime lecture: Bringing ghost data back from the dead Fri, 20 Jan 2017, 13:00 Open Data Institute, 65 Clifton Street, London, EC2A 4JE

  • Data infrastructure
  • Data publishing and use
  • Science and research

  Michael Weatherburn will share his insights into the scale of this issue, and discuss how we can recover important data to fill gaps in knowledge
• Talk
  

  Friday lunchtime lecture: Creating an open register – what it takes and why Fri, 02 Dec 2016, 13:00 Open Data Institute, 65 Clifton Street, London, EC2A 4JE

  • Data infrastructure
  • Data publishing and use
  • Open standards and open APIs
  • Skills and literacy

  Paul Downey from the Government Digital Service will share his vision for what open registers can help achieve
• Talk
  

  Friday lunchtime lecture: Creative and critical 
use of complex networks Fri, 11 Nov 2016, 13:00 Open Data Institute, 65 Clifton Street, London, EC2A 4JE

  • Data infrastructure
  • Data publishing and use

  Burak Arıkan will present the Graph Commons platform

Relevant ODI Members