Broader Programmes
Open Data Challenge series
25 February 2021
What was the Open Data Challenge series?
The Open Data Challenge Prize Series was a series of seven challenge prizes to generate innovative and sustainable open data solutions to social challenges. It was funded by the Technology Strategy Board,(now known as Innovate UK) and the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, now known as the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS).
Why did we do this?
Open data has the potential to power tools that provide solutions to real problems. Although the UK is the world leader in releasing open data, its use in informing real world solutions has been limited and fragmented, with innovative start-ups lacking support and data expertise to scale to a sustainable business level.
This series of challenges aimed to galvanise a new community to use open data as the key ingredient in helping solve social problems. The challenges helped SMEs and start-ups to work with data providers, industry experts and business leaders to develop new ways to reuse available data, creating sustainable business opportunities.
What did we do?
- A series of seven challenge prizes supported the development of innovative solutions to social challenges using open data.
- For each challenge, projects competed for a potential £40,000 grand prize. Winning projects were those with the best solution combining open data expertise with a credible plan and market.
This challenge was delivered in partnership with
The Open Data Challenge Series Handbook
Who are the challenge judges
Heather Savory, ODUG
Gavin Starks, ODI
Helen Goulden, Nesta
Deborah Williams, ACE
Tony Burton, Consultant
Bill Thompson, Broadcaster
Maria Bojanowska, BM
Learn more about each Challenge
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![A group of people enjoy some artwork by Gabriel Dawe]()
Heritage and Culture Open Data Challenge
Using open data to engage more people in heritage and culture
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![A bike in front of a city]()
Crime and Justice Open Data Challenge
Using open data to get communities involved with reducing personal crime.
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![A landscape of windmills]()
Energy and Environment Open Data Challenge
Using open data to help communities be more energy efficient.
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![Two girls writing]()
Education Open Data Challenge
Using open data to help parents make informed choices about their children’s education
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![A table is covered in various dishes of food in all colours of the rainbow]()
Food Open Data Challenge
Using open data to help people eat more healthily and sustainably
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![An aerial view of houses]()
Housing Open Data Challenge
Using open data to help people get the best out of renting.
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![An overhead view of a woman working on a laptop]()
Jobs Open Data Challenge
Using open data to help people get better jobs and create new jobs.
Similar Challenges
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![A pair of hands operate a mobile phone in front of a field of rapeseed]()
Data Driven Farming Prize
Sought tools to source, analyse and translate data into information which farmers can use to improve agricultural productivity in Nepal.
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![Close up of someone paying by contactless]()
Open Up 2017
Giving new and existing players in banking exclusive access to the Open Up Data Sandbox through which they could develop their prototypes.
