Response to EU’s Data Strategy
EU has released data strategy and it is open for public consultation.
- Introduction
The EU data strategy set out to empower society to make better decisions both in private and public sector. The EU has already built a legal framework such as GDPR that won accolades among many countries. The data strategy sets out a clear vision and articulates its purpose.
This data strategy shows that data is the nervous system of an organisation as it informs both strategic planning and tactical operations. However high-quality data is the foundation for performing data analytics using Artificial Intelligence and it enables to take big decisions with greater confidence. High quality and timely data are essential to quantify risk during uncertain times thus helps to execute mitigation plans that has profound social impact.
This strategy has a very sound founding principle that all data should adhere to European values. It resonates with everyone as people demonstrates those values in their respective behaviours. One of the fundamental principles in maximising the value of the data is to share it other stakeholders adhering to respective legislation and governance settings.
2. Comments
2.1 Data principles & values
As the data strategy states that all data should adhere to European values. This sets the precedence for drafting data governance, and policy principles. We recommend articulating in this strategy how data principles relate to European values. In particular, the strategy needs to set our clear behavioural traits, how people & organisation exhibit those values in relation to handling of data during its lifecycle. This would help embodying European values in data related activities. This also leads to helping European citizens, private organisation and most importantly public servants what behaviours are expected in relation to data to align with European values
2.2 Data governance
Data governance plays a key role in building trust. We recommend DAMA DMBoK (Data Management Association Data Management Body of Knowledge) as a good framework that encapsulates all components of data governance. The DMBoK has a huge community of practitioners and best data practises that can tapped for building data governance policies.
Streaming governance policies and automating the policy compliance to key to ensure efficiency of data governance implementation. We recommend to
a) Reduce the governance overheads of each agencies in managing data assets during its lifecycle
b) Streamline (automate) many data processes as possible
c) Create data governance strategic metrics / indicators to ensure it aligns with data strategy
d) Empower agencies with right tools and training in regard to data governance
e) Creating a framework on which Intellectual Property (IP), ownership, custodianship, can be easily understood & disseminated if multiple datasets are combined to create a new datasets / insight
2.3 Open Data & Innovation
Liberating datasets are key for data driven economy where start-up and innovation flourish. We recommend release of granular open dataset (adhering to GDPR) rather than aggregated so that AI models can be trained by start-ups who can greatly benefit. Thus, ensuing reliability and timely release of those granular dataset is essential as start-ups business are relying on them for their business operations.
The EU Datathon is an amazing initiative to maximise the value of open datasets by solving civic problems and empowering EU citizens to use data for social good. We recommend
a) Promoting these types of hackathon and literacy at school, college and universities
b) Including open data as part of school and university curriculum
c) Teaching data, AI & programming as essential skills
d) Understanding local business & startups data needs to increase open data uptake
e) Enabling member state to have their open data strategy with clear objectives and targets that aligns with EU’s data strategy and open data initiatives. I wish to highlight one of the strategies by transport agencies in Australia[1]
The hackathons give an opportunity for citizens to showcase skills & build new businesses thus helping EU’s economic activities. The below open data benefit map gives an overview of what activities that can be undertaken to reaps economic, social and health benefits.
We wish to highlight similar initiatives in Australia such as GovHack (Appendix A)
2.4 Building common data spaces
In addition to building common data spaces in strategic sector such as industry, sustainability, finance, energy, agriculture, skills, we recommend including space technology for below reasons
a) Space is the next frontier for innovation
b) Enabling start-up ecosystem and new businesses to tap into space domain datasets including space imagery, space measurements from space program would spur economic growth & innovation
2.5 Key Performance Metrics
We recommend creating a table to clearly show
a) Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) that includes ownership, target state & present state; We recommend providing periodic updates on these KPIs via press releases, social media channels and public forum
b) List of initiatives / activities undertaken for each strategic areas/domain
2.6 Data marketplace
Creation of a single marketplace for data is a great initiative and will make easy for organisation to access data. This shall resemble like data catalog. We recommend not to create replica of dataset as this elevates the risk leading to data governance overheads.
2.7 Smart cities
Since most of the smart cities have a lot of sensors embedded in public places and other infrastructure, providing an easy way to access these real-time datasets would help local businesses and start-ups to build new products/services. This can be facilitated through data marketplace.
2.8 Building common capabilities
We recommend building some common capabilities so that members state can utilise them
a) Building data anonymisation libraries,
b) Streamlining data requests process
c) Automating policy adhere & compliance requirements
d) Streamlining internal business processes of local agencies for faster data delivery
Appendix A
GovHack is an international competition for people of all abilities who seek to make communities better through open data. GovHack is a respected community hackathon event, run mostly by volunteers. GovHack have established relationships with government agencies at Federal, State and Local levels across Australia and New Zealand coupled with strong ties to the developer communities and the technology and communications industries in both countries. The hackers showcase the potential of open data to help solve the challenges facing government and its citizens. GovHack is able do this by providing access to data and a space to connect with Government and organisations so participants can workshop ideas around community challenges and imagine and develop concepts to drive meaningful change.
Website: https://govhack.org/
[1] https://www.data.act.gov.au/Government-and-Transparency/Transport-Canberra-City-Services-Open-Data-Strateg/xhma-xpic
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