Open Data Institute ODI

The Open Data Institute (ODI) is an independent, not-for-profit, limited by guarantee company founded by Sir Tim Berners-Lee and Professor Nigel Shadbolt. It is dedicated to promoting Open Data.

The Open Data Institute is operated by a main Board, an Advisory Board of ODI Partners and other stakeholders, and an executive team which is responsible for its day-to-day activities. It is funded by the the Technology Strategy Board (which is sponsored by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS)), Omidyar Network, and by direct revenue.

It is based at 65 Clifton Street, London, EC2A 4JE.

It states that its aim is to; 'catalyse the evolution of an open data culture to create economic, environmental, and social value. It will unlock supply, generate demand, create and disseminate knowledge to address local and global issues…. We will convene world-class experts to collaborate, incubate, nurture and mentor new ideas, and promote innovation. We will enable anyone to learn and engage with open data, and empower our teams to help others through professional coaching and mentoring.'

Open data is information that is licensed for anyone to use, for any purpose, at no cost (see open definition for more information).

Publishing open data can:

Make it easier to share and use information.
Encourage innovation.
Encourage collaboration.
Increase use of paid-for products or services.

The Open Data Institute suggest that when several different organisations publish data relating to a similar field, it is beneficial if they all adopt the same format. Ideally, open data should be published in a format defined in an open standard, delivered over a protocol defined in an open standard, and licensed with an open licence.