Today we celebrate the International Day of Happiness , a global initiative dedicated to promoting joy, well-being, and compassion. Instituted by the United Nations, this annual observance underscores the significance of happiness in individuals' lives and encourages collective action to enhance happiness and well-being across communities and societies. Since it was established in 2013, the International Day of Happiness has grown into a widespread movement, engaging millions worldwide in activities aimed at fostering happiness and well-being. Emphasising happiness as a fundamental human right

Energy stands out as one of the most sought-after data domains on data.europa.eu, largely due to its significant implications in the power and environmental sectors. As global awareness of issues like climate change and renewable resources continues to grow, governments worldwide are increasingly focusing on energy data, introducing directives and targets aimed at enhancing energy efficiency. A significant initiative in this regard is the European Union Renewable Energy Directive , designed to promote the use of renewable energy across Europe by leveraging energy data. This directive sets

Copernicus is the Earth observation arm of the European Union's Space programme . It plays an important role in advancing modern science, focusing on enhancing the lives of citizens. This impact extends not only to Europe but also around the globe. Managed by the European Commission and in collaboration with various partners including ESA and EUMETSAT , Copernicus harnesses data from satellites and ground-based systems to provide valuable information services. This initiative, named after Nicolaus Copernicus , the European scientist who revolutionised our understanding of the cosmos, embodies

The impact of open data has long been a subject of interest, with studies aiming to quantify its contributions to the economy and society. However, a comprehensive understanding of open data’s impact has remained elusive, prompting a recent study to focus on developing a clear definition of the impact, incorporating structured methods and indicators. This study emphasises that clearly defining what is measured is essential for accurately assessing the true impact of open data. Conceptualised around the open data value chain, the report ‘ Indicators for an Open Data Impact Assessment ’ examines

On 15 March 2024 from 10:00 to 11:30 CET , our webinar on ‘Data spaces: experiences from the European Green Deal’ is set to provide valuable insights into the role of data spaces in advancing sustainability within the European data economy. Attendees will have the opportunity to gain insights from experts of the Green Deal Dataspace on its current state of play, lessons learned on building data spaces, best practices, and challenges faced in this endeavor. The European Green Deal provides a plan for Europe to reduce net greenhouse gas emissions by 55% in 2030 and to become a climate-neutral

Mark your calendars for March 22, 2024 from 10:00 to 11:30 CET . Data.europa academy prepares to host an insightful panel discussion titled ‘Data sovereignty & data governance: how can data holders stay in control?’ The session will explore critical topics within the domain of data governance, with a focus on new institutional approaches for data sharing between organisations, including companies and public administrations. This moderated panel discussion marks the start of a series of two webinars. The first one will delve into data sovereignty and governance. It will examine the legal

On Friday 1 March 2024, from 10.00 to 11.00 CET, the data.europa academy hosted the webinar ‘New business models for data-driven services’, exploring the topic of open data for public and private services and fostering sustainable open data ecosystems across Europe. Facilitated by two experts from The Lisbon Council, the interactive session attracted a diverse audience, counting over 500 registrants. The webinar explored the potential reuse of open data from the public sector across various entities, introducing different business models for data-driven public services based on insights from

Since 2011, the Piemonte Region, in the north of Italy, has been very active in country's open data landscape, enacting a regional law on the publication and reuse of public data via the internet. With 1256 datasets and 14 themes, Piemonte’s Open Data Portal's success reached national attention , positioning it as a model for other Regions. Thanks to a cloud-based initiative to enhance data sharing and use, Piemonte was awarded for the best project for digitalisation in the public sector. The open data portal provides for a wide array of data, and is integrated with the Yucca-Smart Data

From 2 to 8 March 2024, we celebrate the Open Data Day (ODD) , an annual global event dedicated to supporting the culture of open data. Since it was established in 2010, the Open Data Day has been instrumental in promoting the use of open data within communities worldwide, fostering innovation, transparency, and collaboration. This year's ODD, organised by the Open Knowledge Foundation (OKFN) , involves collaboration from organisations such as Jokkolabs Banjul (Gambia) , Open Knowledge Germany , Open Knowledge Ghana , and Open Knowledge Nepal , all members of the Open Knowledge Network . To

Today we celebrate the 10th anniversary Zero Discrimination Day, organised by the United Nations and UNAIDS. This year marks its 10th anniversary, a powerful reminder of the fundamental right of every individual to live a life free from discrimination, with dignity and respect. It emphasises the importance of promoting inclusion, compassion, and peace, fostering a global movement for positive change, which starts from spreading awareness and share data about discrimination and unfair treatment. A powerful reminder of the fundamental right of every individual to live a life free from