The challenge
While the potential social impacts of open data are undeniable, it is important to recall that open data may also enable substantial economic growth and prosperity. Estimates have put the annual potential economic value of open data as high as $3-5 trillion – and with the benefits shared between data-driven businesses themselves and the end-users of the services provided by those businesses.
However the route for achieving these levels of benefit on a global scale is not clearly understood. Without a good understanding, policies and interventions cannot be designed to maximise and accelerate the achievement of the benefits. There are already disparities not just between developed countries and developing countries but also within regions. The WISE/Demos Europa study suggests that some EU countries would gain double the per-capita benefits of others because of structural and skills differences. Likewise, a few countries such as Kenya, Ghana, and Senegal are already outpacing other African countries in bringing data-driven applications to market and delivering benefits to the users of those services.
Moreover, some leading governments have moved past their initial approach of leaving open data exploitation to the market alone, and are now investing significant time and resources in working with businesses. This can be seen, for instance, in the current program of “business open data roundtables” by departments of the United States Government. Finally, some in developing countries have started to question the extent to which the release of their data will benefit other countries at the expense of their own.
Through this track, we hope to bring together innovators from different sectors and different parts of the world to share experience of what already works and what is still needed in terms of policies and supporting ecosystems. This is an important first step to fully and fairly realizing the economic potential of open data for the benefit of all people, including marginalized peoples, in all parts of the world.
Proposals
The following draft actions were developed through sessions at IODC15. You are invited to share your feedback on these actions using the comments box below. A final roadmap of actions will be published in mid-2015.
Key action: Scaling equitable economic impact
Additional action: Developing the Open Data Impact Map
The Open Data Impact Map can support the identification of potential areas for economic growth from open data, and can enable research into the local factors that unlock open data’s economic promise. The Open Data Impact Map, and it’s network of regional supporters, will be further developed as part of the OD4D network, incorporating further in-depth impact case studies.
More information | Add your stories to the Open Data Impact map
Additional action: Open Data Charter Private Sector Working Group
The Private Sector Working Group of the Open Data Charter will secure substantial engagement from businesses in the Charter process.
More information | Get involved in the Open Data Charter Private Sector Working Group
Action anchors
Action anchors are taking a lead on shaping the conversation in the run up to the conference, and facilitating the conference session. They will be blogging about the key issues to be address, and existing initiatives that respond to the challenges in this area.
Blog posts
- Public-private engagement: Moving beyond the app economy May 26, 2015 – A guest post from Joel Gurin of the Center for Open Data Enterprise On Friday May 29 at 10:30, Andrew Stott, Maurice McNaughton, and I will lead an Action Track session on realizing the economic value of open data. While open data can boost economic growth in many ways, including through good government, improved education, and better public services, our session … Read More
- Making sense of US$3 trillion – Estimating the value of Open Data for Small Developing Economies May 26, 2015 – A guest post from Maurice McNaughton of the Caribbean Open Institute. No matter what source you subscribe to, the numbers are staggering, when one considers the potential economic value of open data. The McKinsey Global Institute estimates approximately US$3 trillion value potential across 7 domains. The Warsar Institute for Economic Studies projects a contribution of €205 billion annually to the European … Read More
Proposals
Proposals for addressing this challenge will be developed over the course of IODC15, and shared here shortly afterwards.