Using AI in the public sector is possible, but how? Artificial Intelligence (AI) software has been called the most disruptive force in technology and it offers an unprecedented opportunity to transform both the private- and public services sector. It is a priority for the European Union and the European Commission recently presented a series of measure to boost Europe's competitiveness in this field. In the public sector, AI applications are still only used to a small extent though. A key question is: how can the potential of AI applications in the public sector be unleashed? Open Data can

The rise of cultural Open Data Cultural institutions possess a lot of valuable information. Examples are the collections that cultural institutions manage and the available knowledge about these collections. New technologies have made it possible to expose cultural heritage on digital platforms and in the last few years, an increasing number of cultural institutions digitised their collections. Digitised material from cultural institutions can be re-used to develop, among others: learning and educational content, documentaries, animations and design tools. However, re-use of data is only

Europe is making considerable progress in reaching Open Data maturity and is fast-forwarding its Open Data transformation. Recent studies show that higher economic benefits are expected from Open Data at both macroeconomic and microeconomic levels. Data holds a tremendous potential for societies and economies. When disclosed, data can stimulate economic growth, better decision-making, more transparency and efficiency of governments, as well as higher quality of life and more inclusive societies. Numerous studies undertaken across Europe and the globe have measured the impact of data for

Are you a nature lover? Then you should explore the benefits Open Data can bring you. Did you for instance know that the European Data Portal can help you to find - or to avoid - brown bears ('Orso Marsicano') in the region of Lazio, Italy? This dataset presents the events of bear encounters between the '90s and 2015, and shows these encounters on a 2 by 2 kilometer grid. Documenting these encounters is important for the territorial management aimed at preserving the population of the brown bear. The picture below shows that in Lazio, bear encounters primarily occur in the mountains in the

Not all Open Data has the same potential for re-use. A total of thirteen data categories can be found on the European Data Portal, but certain data categories are more likely to be re-used than others. On a European level, the European Commission has identified five thematic data domains that are expected to represent those with the highest demand from re-users across the EU: geospatial data, earth observation data and environment, transport data, statistics and company data. In this article, we will further explore the transport domain. The transport domain is a very 'tangible' domain, with

Through its series of eLearning modules as well as interactive Open Data materials, the European Data Portal has put together a comprehensive companion for all Open Data 'aficionados', that covers the main aspects of Open Data - from its definition and benefits, to choosing the right data format and licence, cleaning up data and sustainability of Open Data. Our experts have selected 16 short modules designed for all those interested in discovering more about Open Data. The modules suit all levels from beginners to experts. The eLearning programme introduces users to every aspect of Open Data

Understood as the 'new oil' that makes societies and economies run more smoothly, data remains until now a resource whose potential is not tapped to its fullest. Numerous studies have measured the impact of data for economic, political and societal development, with several others pinpointing the importance of Open Data for economic growth. Open Data is seen as a driver for economic growth and an enabler for transparency and accountability, as well as innovation and knowledge. The EU Neighbourhood is keen on fast-forwarding on Open Data. However capacity building and awareness raising are

Can "Rural" learn from "Urban"? Cities and urban areas have become avid users and sources of data, largely under the catch-all and loosely defined term smart cities. Open data is considered a "defining element" of smart cities because data is vital for cities and citizens. Due to its significance, projects such as the Urban Data Platform utilise open data with the aim of speeding up the adoption of common open urban data platforms, ensuring that "300 million European citizens are served by cities with competent urban data platforms, by 2025". This focus on cities makes sense: They have a dense

European Week of Regions and Cities The European Week of Regions and Cities (EWRC) is an annual four-day event where experts, academics and officials from regions' and cities' administrations across Europe can meet and exchange best practices and information on regional and urban development. The event acts as a knowledge sharing platform for communication on the development of EU cohesion policy and to raise awareness on the decision-making process for regions and cities in EU policy making. This year, the event was held at SQUARE - Brussels Convention Centre and had over 9,000 attendants

Water Water is a dynamic medium that continuously changes from liquid, to solid, to gas and enables life on our earth. Water is one of the three basic needs for humans as it plays a critical role in delivering nutrients and oxygen, regulating the body temperature, and helping in fighting illness and supporting brain function. Due to the importance of water, data that measures its quality, temperature, use, dissemination, and supply is generated, regularly updated and used in the decision and policy making process and to create services that aim to improve our day-to-day life and support the