Building on a year of open data: progress and promise – Microsoft On the Issues – Microsoft

One year ago, Microsoft launched an Open Data Campaign to help close the data divide between those countries and companies that have the data they need to innovate and those that do not. We learned quickly that this continued divide risks leaving some people behind, without the ability to put data to work and without the ability to generate economic wealth and opportunity more broadly.

To address the challenges of tomorrow, we need to make it easier to open, share and collaborate around data today. Thats why were sharing 10 key lessons from the first year of our campaign to help other organizations of all sizes unlock the power of data.

Before I dive into the lessons, I want to share an update on the progress weve made toward our goals, as well as our focus areas for the year ahead.

Weve made steady progress toward closing the data divide, but we still have a long way to go. The data divide persists and continues to threaten the democratization of data but we also see a lot of reason for hope and optimism. Microsoft President Brad Smith and I recently discussed the challenges, what weve learned since the campaign launched and our ambitions going forward. I encourage you to watch our conversation, where we also heard from thought leaders who are advancing the cause of open data.

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Learning by doing

The biggest takeaway from our work this past year and the one thing I hope any reader of this post will take away is that data collaboration is a spectrum. From the presence (or absence) of data to how open that data is to the trust level of the collaboration participants, these factors may necessarily lead to different configurations and different goals, but they can all lead to more open data and innovative insights and discoveries.

Here are a few other lessons we have learned over the last year:

To get started, we suggest that emerging data collaborations make use of the wealth of existing resources. When embarking on data collaborations, we leveraged many of the definitions, toolkits and guides from leading organizations in this space. As examples, resources such as the Open Data Institutes Data Ethics Canvas are extremely useful as a framework to develop ethical guidance. Additionally, The GovLabs Open Data Policy Lab and Executive Course on Data Stewardship, both supported by Microsoft, highlight important case studies, governance considerations and frameworks when sharing data. If you want to learn more about the exciting work our partners are doing, check out the latest posts from the Open Data Institute and GovLab.

Moving forward

Using these lessons learned and building on the progress weve made alongside our partners, we plan to spend the next year focused on the practical aspects of data sharing and making the process easier.

Scaling data stewardship

One key insight we gained this past year is the strong interest and need for guidance when it comes to data stewardship. Many organizations want to do more around open data and data sharing, but when it comes to the practical aspects of how to do it, they often dont know where to start. Building on the success of this years Data Stewardship Executive Course, the Open Data Policy Lab is today publishing its course materials so that organizations everywhere can use these resources to guide their data reuse strategies.

Additionally, the Open Data Policy Lab will focus on scaling data stewardship guidance for the public and private sectors. To help address these needs, a new Data Stewardship Academy will be designed for a much broader reach. Second, the Open Data Policy Lab will develop an Open Cities initiative to build community and share insights among cities that are opening and using data to innovate and drive change. The Open Data Policy Lab will also continue to drive new research on open data and data reuse, including a closer look at the value of open data.

Fostering new data collaborations

Well continue to identify and help launch data collaborations to address societal issues focused on sustainability, health, and equity and inclusion.

To help address climate challenges, together with the Open Data Institute, we are committed to launching and supporting three data collaborations to address climate change. These three data collaborations will each focus on one of the six priority areas that we identified in the report, Accelerating Progress on Tackling the Climate Crisis Through Data Collaboration.

Additionally, in partnership with the Open Data Institute, well be announcing an open call for a new Peer Learning Network for data collaborations to participate and learn from each other. Another focus area with the Open Data Institute is to build momentum through case studies across sectors that highlight the value of opening and sharing data that would otherwise not be realized.

Growing data analyst skills and data literacy

We also want to help connect those who currently work with data or would like to explore a career in data analysis with related, in-demand skills, in partnership with the Microsoft skills initiative. This work includes sharing opportunities to obtain Microsoft Certifications on data and AI fundamentals and courses for data analysts.

Making data sharing easier

We must make data sharing easier through scalable tools and technologies. Technologies, such as differential privacy, made more accessible through the first-ever open source differential privacy platform, SmartNoise, are critical to preserving privacy when sharing data. Additionally, continuing work on legal and licensing tools such as the Open Use of Data Agreement (O-UDA) and Computational Use of Data Agreement (C-UDA), both initiated by Microsoft in 2019 and now stewarded by the Linux Foundation will encourage and simplify broader data sharing. We will continue to focus on development of these frameworks, resources and technologies that make data sharing more accessible and achievable.

Advancing policy discussions

A robust data reuse regime necessitates good governance frameworks. Increasingly, policymakers are taking measures to improve existing open data initiatives and are exploring data governance mechanisms.

To fully realize the benefits of data, policymakers must work with industry, academia and civil society to develop incentives, infrastructure and mechanisms to responsibly share public and private sector data within and across organizational and national boundaries that are in line with the rule of law and safeguard human rights, while allowing for effective data re-use for innovation. In addition to properly maintained and funded national open data programs, data governance frameworks create trust in the integrity of the data sharing ecosystem by ensuring that the benefits of data are equitably shared and by providing adequate safeguards to protect cybersecurity, human rights and privacy.

At Microsoft, our mission is to empower every person and organization on the planet to achieve more. Closing the data divide wont happen overnight, but if we continue to build a bold, diverse movement committed to this work, we know the impact will benefit future generations in pursuit of a safer, healthier world.

Tags: broadband access, COVID-19, Open Data, Open Data Campaign, SmartNoise, sustainability

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Building on a year of open data: progress and promise - Microsoft On the Issues - Microsoft