IODC is the essential meeting point for the global community to debate and study the future of open data.

IODC aims to build stronger relationships between open data initiatives from the different governments and establish a dialogue between these voices:

• Policy makers and Public Sector Information (PSI) holders
• Private companies, startups and freelancers
• Activists and NGO’s
• Data journalism
• Representatives of civil society from all over the world.

The differentiating nature of the event is that it gathers countries from the northern and southern hemispheres to define tendencies and establish global policies of collaboration, with the objective of stimulating the progress of open data globally.

Titled “Global goals, local impact” the fourth IODC will reconvene our expanding community to showcase successes, confront shared challenges, and help us ensure that our vision and our diverse initiatives continue to coordinate effectively.

Prior to the official opening of the IODC 2016, October 6-7, a large number of preconference meetings will be held in Madrid on October 3, 4 and 5 by government and civil society open data groups.

The upcoming edition of IODC will be built on the successful experience of IODC 2015 and will also take into consideration the results of many other relevant Open Data events, leveraging the momentum of the existing collaborations of the growing Open Data community, to release and expand the potential of Open Data.

The agenda of the event will be focused on the 3 main objectives of the Conference:

1. Bring together the most innovative and practical Open Data solutions that are driving social and economic impact on areas such as health, gender, cities, education, science, agriculture and many more.
2. Identify and explore both new opportunities and new debates that are shaping the Open Data agenda.
3. Consolidate an international partnership on Open Data able to drive the development of global common resources for the international Open Data community.

As a global event, the conference will provide significant learning and a space for networking and collaboration for all national and international participants in government, private sector and civil society, who will learn from the best international Open Data experts.

The Global Open Data community will be not only invited, but truly encouraged to send their contributions for the agenda of the three main tracks in which the event is organized: Impact, Sharing and Action.

In addition to our goals to convene an event that seeks to foster knowledge development and intellectual exchange, IODC organizers are working towards creating an inclusive, innovative, and empowering event. At IODC 2016, we will also strive for the greatest possible level of gender balance, regional diversity, and inclusion of all voices.