The government is helping to unlock data from
public bodies by awarding £1.5 million to projects as part of the Release
of Data fund.
The
Cabinet Office investment will support organisations who want to improve their
data publication data as part of a government push to increase transparency.
The Open Data User Group
(ODUG), which acts as a bridge between the open data community and
government, will collect bids for funding.
Visit data.gov.uk to see what data is currently available or read
case studies of open data in action.
About the funding
The
first round of funding supports projects that will release public data
directly, but also those that will help boost skills in the public sector. More
funding will follow later this year.
Open data training
More than 100 training places will be available for
senior public servants. The training will cover how open data can improve
efficiency, bring savings and innovation, and provide wider economic benefits.
The aim is to help improve public data release in the future.
Local public data
A
number of projects aim to improve the release of public data at a local level
– eg the Leeds Data Mill will provide citizens with freely available data
about public services.
Other projects will help all local authorities to
release specific data in a consistent way – eg the Local Authority
Voucher Scheme will encourage every local authority to release data on public
conveniences, gritting and planning in the same format. Projects like this will
help the open data community to develop national products using this data
– which hasn’t been consistently available or standardised before
now.
The
Minister for the Cabinet Office, Francis Maude, said:
The
UK is a world-leader in opening up data because we know that it creates a more
accountable, efficient and effective government. Open Data is a raw material
for economic growth, supporting the creation of new markets, business and jobs
and helping us compete in the global race. To ensure this agenda continues to
thrive, we are supporting a number of projects which will drive forward this
culture of openness.
Open data case studies
In
the lead up to International Open Data Day on February 22,
2014, ODUG is releasing 50 case studies on open-data-led business and
applications ondata.gov.uk, the
government’s flagship data portal.
You
can also find out more about the following innovative uses of open
data: