Local authority data goes digital to tackle community issues

8/11/11

NESTA has launched a new programme in Scotland to help local authorities work with digital media developers to create innovative, web-based services which will benefit their local communities.

The pioneering project, called 'Make it Local Scotland', organised by the National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts (NESTA), aims to help local authorities maximise use of the vast amounts of data they hold. By partnering with digital media developers, local authorities will have the chance to capitalise on the information they hold to develop entirely new digital services.

Using awards of up to £25,000, NESTA will support up to four ideas from local authorities in Scotland for public data that could be made 'open' and turned into new digital services to benefit local and national communities.

Make it Local Scotland is part of a range of recent and forthcoming work which will help local authorities and other public bodies in Scotland harness the power of innovation and new ways of working to improve services in a climate of decreased financial resources and expected rise in demand on local services.

Jackie McKenzie, NESTA Head of Innovation Programmes Scotland said: "Scottish councils hold huge amounts of data that has the potential to transform the way we all relate to public services if only we could access and support it. Imagine what could be achieved by communities if local government data were released and made accessible to the public- simple ideas like which roads had been cleared of snow, where salt and shovels could be accessed by communities; which books are in our libraries and how we might even share our own books into that stock. We want to bring together digital media developers and pioneering local authorities to show what could be achieved"

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For further information please contact Graeme Downie on 07595 710 856 or at graeme.downie@nesta.org.uk.  Alternatively contact Jan Singleton on 020 7438 2606 or at jan.singleton@nesta.org.uk

About NESTA

NESTA is the UK's foremost independent expert on how innovation can solve some of the country's major economic and social challenges. Its work is enabled by an endowment, funded by the National Lottery, and it operates at no cost to the government or taxpayer.

NESTA is a world leader in its field and carries out its work through a blend of experimental programmes, analytical research and investment in early-stage companies. www.nesta.org.uk   

About 'Make it Local'

'Make it Local' aims to identify how local authorities can maximise their use of open data by working with local digital experts to create innovative services that benefit their community. Applications will have to address a specific need identified by local residents, allow users an opportunity to update and augment the data with their own content and use real-time local public data.

The schedule for the Make it Local is as follows:

• Midnight  31st January 2012- applications close
• 14th February 2012- up to 4 ideas selected and awarded funding
• By 30th September 2012- the new service is to be created

More information on Make it Local Scotland can be found at www.nesta.org.uk/make_it_local_scotland

Case studies on a similar programme operated in England can be found at www.nesta.org.uk/areas_of_work/public_services_lab/make_it_local