Introduction

• The global open data community is maturing quickly:
• The adoption of the G8 Open Data Charter and discussions around a more inclusive international Open Data Charter at the Open Government Partnership show the growing political commitment to unlock the supply of data.
• The UN Independent Expert Advisory Group on a Data Revolution for Sustainable Development has highlighted the key role of open data in the post-2015 agenda. The report calls the international community to explore how common principles and standards can facilitate openness and information exchange and promote and protect human rights.
• The growing availability of data is reducing barriers to entrepreneurship and innovation around the world. Innovative citizen-centered solutions are driving a substantial transformation in sectors such as health, education, transport and many others.
• In this context, the Government of Canada, the International Development and Research Centre and the World Bank are pleased to announce Canada will host the 3rd International Open Data Conference (IODC) in Ottawa from May 28-29, 2015.
• Titled “Enabling the Data Revolution,” the IODC will bring together open data experts with professionals to understand the global impact of open data, coordinate action and share best practices. The 3rd International Open Data Conference will be the place where the international open data community will chart its future.

Expected Results

The conference will lead to a collaborative international agenda to convert open data talk into action. This agenda will include:

• A collective vision on how open data is changing key sectors, such as agriculture, education, etc.
• A roadmap on how to: unlock the supply of open data; build a global consensus on open data standards, scale solutions that work; and broaden participation in the data revolution.
• Strategic contributions to on-going global, national, and local open data initiatives through the pre-conference meetings and their articulation into the overall agenda
• Significant learning and lasting links for approximately 800 national and international participants in government and civil society who will learn from the best international open data experts.
• A permanent mechanism will be created to support future editions of the conference and facilitate permanent engagement with the community.

IODC Conference Agenda (May 28-29)

Opening

The IODC will open with high-level Canadian government representation and feature keynote speakers addressing the role and importance of open data.

First day

The morning will include two high level plenaries on a) The Future of Open Data and b) Strengthening the Global Open Data Agenda. The rest of the day will feature lighting talks to share best practices, challenges and success stories from those who are putting open data to work.
Online contributions and subsequent debates will help to hone our collective vision of how open data can effectively be a game-changer in these sectors.
The first day will finish with a gala reception in the Trillium Ballroom of the Shaw Centre in Ottawa, with stunning views overlooking Canada’s capital city.

Second day

The second day of the conference will build on the conversations and work of the first day and be organized along thematic tracks, including:

• Policies and principles: how to unlock the supply of high quality open data.
• Toward a consensus on data standards: how to strengthen the use and impact of open data standards that foster social and economic change.
• Scaling solutions that work: how good solutions can be promoted, replicated, and adopted more widely, creating economic and social benefits.
• Nobody should be left behind: how to ensure that data promotes inclusion and widens participation so that everyone can benefit from the data revolution.

Final plenary session

The final plenary session will pull together the results and achievements of the different panels and tracks to produce a collaborative agenda document. This document will reflect the collective efforts of different groups that contributed to the debate in Ottawa. The final session will also include important announcements.
Pre-conference meetings
Prior to the official opening of the IODC, a number of pre-conference meetings will be held in Ottawa on May 26 and 27 by government and civil society open data groups.
These will include:

• An Open Data Government Leaders Summit, hosted by the Open Government Partnership and the Open Data Institute. Participants will discuss leadership and change management, supporting a network of peers to improve the quality and scope of open data plans.
• An “Unconference,” hosted Open Knowledge, and Abrelatam. A participant-driven meeting where the agenda will be created by the attendees.
• The inaugural meeting of the Open Data Research Symposium, hosted by the Web Foundation and the Open Data Research Network. Researchers from around the world will disseminate fresh results and get feedback from leading academics.
• Official and extra-official meetings of the International Aid and Transparency Initiative (IATI), Open Contracting, Open Parliaments, and the Global Open Data for Agriculture and Nutrition initiative (GODAN).
• High-level meetings of international government officials, organized with the help of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Canada.

While these meetings have their own objectives, they will contribute substantially to the overarching aims of the conference.
Sponsorships

We are seeking your support as a sponsor of this landmark international open data event.

• Our Diamond sponsorship receives the maximum visibility at the conference and will be recognized prominently in all conference promotional materials. The Diamond sponsor will also have their logo displayed on all live and recorded webcasts at the conference, which will reach a national and international online audience.
• Gold sponsors receive prime visibility through their support of the gala reception at the close of the first day of the conference.
• Silver sponsors gain significant visibility by co-hosting the conference lunches.

All sponsors are ensured visibility through promotional materials and at the conference itself.

If you wish to sponsor the IODC 2015, communicate by email with Nicole Généreux at [email protected].