Canadian Open Data Exchange (ODX) (CA0032)

The Government of Canada will establish an open data institute to support collaboration with the private sector, civil society, academia, and other levels of government to
promote the commercialization of open data.

Commitment 3. Canadian Open Data Exchange

Commitment Text:

The Government of Canada will establish an open data institute to support collaboration with the private sector, civil society, academia, and other levels of government to promote the commercialization of open data.

The global movement of technology and social media is generating massive amounts of information. Capitalizing on data offers $1.3 trillion in possible economic development in North America alone (McKinsey & Company: 'Open data: Unlocking innovation and performance with liquid information'). This type of opportunity is leading public sector institutions in Canada at all levels to undertake open data initiatives. In response to the tremendous commercial opportunity represented by open data, the Government of Canada has announced an investment of $3 million over three years to launch a new institute on open data: the Canadian Open Data Exchange (ODX).

While governments collect much of the world's data, they do not always share it in ways that support ease of discoverability, access, use, or understanding by the public. Today, citizens expect to be able to access information and services electronically when and how they choose to do so. The creation of an information economy has motivated government to release vast amounts of public data, but there remain real challenges to accessing that data in a way that can generate insights, ideas, and services to truly benefit society.

ODX will work with governments, the private sector, civil society, and academia to help realize the full potential of open data for the economic and social benefit of Canada. ODX will bring together all of the pieces that support a sustainable, market-driven, open -data ecosystem whose success is measured by commercialization outcomes, such as the creation of jobs, companies, and wealth.

The vision for ODX is that by creating a platform and toolsets to help commercial actors use available data, new products and companies may be launched to meet market needs, social challenges will be addressed to improve the quality of life for Canadians, and, above all, new jobs will be created.

ODX will develop industry standards for open data, build a national marketplace where commercialization of open data can flourish, and support a pan-Canadian open data innovation community that will help incubate the next generation of data-driven companies. Through ODX, Canadians will be able to see the measurable economic benefits of open data in the form of job creation, investment in data-driven companies, and the establishment of a national hub for the commercialization of open data.

Deliverables to be completed in 2014-16:

• Establish an open data institute in Canada (the Canadian Open Data Exchange, or ODX), as a national marketplace that includes an online community for those engaged in the commercialization of open data. ODX will undertake the following in collaboration with governments, civil society organizations, and private industry:
  • Developing new tools and applications that access and manipulate government data;
  • Establishing a framework for open data standards, including the articulation of industry standards for presenting, and providing access to open data for key sectors;
  • Consulting with industry champions on the development of demonstration projects for the commercialization of open data in priority sectors;
  • Launching a national outreach program, including events, workshops, hackathons, and student contest opportunities nationwide; and
  • Incubating new data-driven companies.

Responsible institution: Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario

Supporting institution(s): None

Start date: November 2014  End date: 30 June 2016

Commitment Aim:

This commitment aims to establish an open data institute to support collaboration with the private sector, civil society, academia, and other levels of government to promote the commercialization of open data. Companies should be able to turn to the institute for understanding, designing, and deploying open data-oriented products and services. The ODX would be a place for the collaborative development of new tools and applications to access and manipulate government data, to establish a framework for open data standards, and for consulting with industry champions on demonstration projects commercializing open data in priority sectors. It would launch a national outreach program and incubate new data-driven companies.

STATUS

Mid-term: Substantial

The Open Data Exchange (ODX) was launched in May 2015. The lead institution for the commitment announced that CND$3 million would be provided to Communitech Corporation to establish the exchange. At the time of the mid-term report, the ODX was in its infancy, with its first demonstration project scheduled for November 2015. Interviewees for the mid-term report noted that the ODX deliverables should be completed by March 2018, putting the anticipated completion date for this commitment outside of the timeframe covered by the second national action plan.

End of term: Limited

The IRM researcher coded this commitment as ‘substantially complete’ in the mid term progress report. Officials from agency responsible for this commitment were unable to provide the IRM researcher with an update in the requested timeframe for inclusion in this report.  ^{Personal correspondence with IRM Researcher September 6, 2016.}  That said, there is some evidence of progress change during the reporting period.  The ODX announced that it was signing onto the Open Data Global Network in March 2016.  ^{ODX, ‘ODX Joins Open Data Global Network with Canada’s Open Data 150 Project,’ http://codx.ca/odx-joins-open-data-global-network-with-canadas-open-data-150-project/}  During the latter part of the second national action plan, companies were surveyed and data was collected for the project.   ^{ODX, ‘OD150: First out of the Gate,’ http://codx.ca/od150-first-out-of-the-gate/}  Given that there is no concrete evidence that the commitment has been completed in its entirety, it remains coded as ‘substantially’ complete.

Did it open government?

Access to information: Did not change

There is insufficient evidence to determine that the ODX led to either fundamental improvement or negative effect on government openness. Results of the effort that has gone into the establishment of the ODX remain to be seen.

Carried forward?

This commitment was carried over to the third action plan. Commitment 15 of the new action plan is titled ‘Stimulate Innovation Through Canada’s Open Data Exchange.’ The milestones map over those found in the second action plan and include:
 

• Complete a comprehensive mapping of 150 Canadian companies that are using open data to launch new products and services, create commercial and non-profit ventures, optimize their business processes, conduct research, and/or make data-driven decisions.
• Launch an online platform at www.opendata500.com/ca to showcase Canada’s Open Data 150.
• Establish a national network of open data users within industry to collaborate on the development of standards and practices in support of data commercialization.
• Collaborate with private industry on three demonstration projects to illustrate the commercialization potential of open data in priority sectors.
• Incubate 15 new data-driven companies by June 2018.  ^{Canada’s Third Biennial Plan to the Open Government Partnership 2016 – 2018, http://www.opengovpartnership.org/wp-content/uploads/2001/01/Canada_AP3.pdf}