Open data in Scotland: a blueprint for unlocking innovation, collaboration and impact

5. Summary and next steps

The Scottish Government can establish a position as a central coordinator and set the direction for unlocking the potential of open data in Scotland. Collaboration and long-lasting partnerships with the community and other organisations are critical to making this achievable.

The recommendations on how to do this are as follows:

1. Set out a vision that makes the case for open data.

This should centre social and economic impacts over technical artefacts; be purpose-directed with thematic priorities; be clearly communicated to build trust; and set expectations for the long-term.

2. Embrace long-term collaboration and commitment.

Partner with community stakeholders and private sector organisations to make best use of limited government resources; make progress visible; align with broader trends towards government openness.

3. Create an implementation strategy that is intentional, realistic, transparently monitored and celebrates success.

Target data publication in line with thematic priorities; set expectations around a sustainable approach; regularly review, measure and report on impacts.

4. Set the standards for open data publication.

Provide direction on data quality, technical standards and discoverability of data.

5. Provide targeted technical guidance and support for publishers and users.

Establish direct and indirect support for data publishers and users; centre existing communities of practice.

The Scottish Government has an opportunity to take advantage of two decades of established best practice around open data publication, and to lean into existing communities of practice, both locally and globally, to establish a sustainable, long-term strategy for generating positive impact using open data in Scotland.

Challenges will be around building trust in both the vision and the implementation. It will be necessary to improve the organisational culture around data publication, providing training to build internal expertise where necessary. Establishing a culture of continuous, iterative improvement and celebrating small successes with regular, transparent reporting may be a shift from previous ways of working.

For the next steps, we recommend:

• Early identification of prospective partnerships and collaborative opportunities.
• Determine how best to measure impact and assess risk, and put processes in place to do so as early as possible.
• Set out responsibility for making decisions about principles and frameworks for data quality and technical choices that will guide data publication, and plan how to communicate those decisions once made with internal and external stakeholders.
• Identify key areas to target with open data initiatives, based on high level government priorities, and local knowledge about where the most impact will be made.