eventos

On Wednesday, March 4, the Cajasiete Big Data, Open Data and Blockchain Chair of the University of La Laguna held a webinar to present the winning ideas of the Cabildo de Tenerife Open Data Contest: Reuse Ideas. An event to highlight the potential of public information when it is put at the service of citizens. The recording of the presentation is available here.

In this post we will review what each of the winning projects consists of – which are still pending ideas for development in apps – and what challenges they would answer.

Cultiva+ Tenerife: precision agriculture for the Tenerife countryside

The first prize-winning project was born from a very specific need that every farmer on the island knows well: to make the right decisions at the right time. Which crop is most profitable this season? What are the weather conditions forecast for the coming weeks? Is there a fair or event in the sector that should not be missed?

Cultiva+ Tenerife is an application designed specifically for the agricultural sector that integrates open data from the Cabildo to answer these questions in a simple and intuitive way.

Specifically, it is aimed at both workers already established in the sector and new farmers. In the first case, the app would facilitate daily work through irrigation recommendations and other issues that improve production; while for new farmers the application would help to select the best plot to start an agricultural activity according to soil type, weather conditions, etc.

Figure 1. Possible uses of the Cultiva+ Tenerife application according to the type of user. Source: presentation by Cultiva+Tenerife in the Webinar "From data to innovation: Reuse ideas awarded in the I Open Data Contest of the Cabildo de Tenerife, Universidad de la Laguna".

The application would intuitively and clearly collect information such as:

• Price information: the farmer can consult the evolution of market prices of different products, which allows him to plan what to grow based on the expected profitability.
• Weather conditions: the app crosses weather data with the specific needs of each type of crop, helping to anticipate irrigation, protection or harvests.

• Agenda of activities of interest: agricultural fairs, technical conferences, calls for grants... All relevant information for the sector, centralized in one place.

  

Figure 2. Visual structure of the Cultiva+Tenerife application. Source: presentation by Cultiva+Tenerife in the Webinar "From data to innovation: Reuse ideas awarded in the I Open Data Contest of the Cabildo de Tenerife, Universidad de la Laguna".

Something that was highlighted as valuable about this project in the webinar is its focus on a group that has historically had less access to digital tools: farmers in Tenerife. The proposal does not seek to complicate their day-to-day life with unnecessary technology, but to simplify decisions that today are often made by eye or with incomplete information. Precision agriculture is no longer just a matter for large farms: with open data and a good application, it can be within the reach of any local producer.

Analysis of trends and models on tourism in Tenerife: when the data reveal a crisis

The second winning project addresses one of the most complex and urgent issues in the reality of Tenerife: the relationship between tourism, housing and the labour market. An equation with multiple variables that directly affects the quality of life of residents and that, until now, was difficult to analyse rigorously without access to reliable data.

The starting point of the project is revealing: in June 2024, 35% of the new employment contracts signed in Tenerife corresponded to the hospitality sector. A figure that perfectly illustrates the structural dependence of the island's economy on tourism, but which also opens up uncomfortable questions: to what extent is tourism growth transforming the housing market? Are you displacing habitual residents from certain areas? How will tourist arrivals evolve in the coming years?

This project proposes to answer these questions through an analysis and prediction model built with data science tools. Its developer proposes to use data such as the number of tourists staying in Tenerife according to category and area of establishment, available in datos.tenerife.es, to build models with Python and NumPy that allow identifying trends and projecting future scenarios.

The objectives of the project are ambitious but concrete:

• Analyse the relationship between tourist demand and accommodation supply, identifying which areas of the island suffer the greatest pressure and at what times of the year.
• To develop a predictive model capable of estimating the future arrival of tourists and their impact on the tourist housing sector.
• Contribute to mitigating the housing crisis by providing data and analysis that allow us to understand how tourism is affecting the availability of housing for residents.
• To support business and urban planning, offering companies, investors and administrations an analysis tool that facilitates strategic decision-making.

In short, it is a matter of putting the intelligence of data at the service of one of the most current debates that Tenerife has on the table.

The university as a bridge between data and society

The choice of the Cajasiete Big Data, Open Data and Blockchain Chair of the University of La Laguna as a space to give visibility to the winners is in itself a message: the University has a key role in the construction of the open data ecosystem in Tenerife.

This chair has been working for years on the border between academic research and the practical application of technologies such as big data analysis, blockchain or the reuse of public information. Their involvement in this competition and in the dissemination of its results reinforces the idea that open data is also a valuable resource for training, research and local economic development.

The success of this first call has confirmed that there was a real demand for this type of initiative. So much so that the Cabildo has already launched the II Open Data Contest: APP Development, which gives continuity to the process by taking ideas to the next level: the development of functional applications.

If in the first edition ideas and conceptual proposals were awarded, in this second edition the challenge is to build real solutions, with code, user interface and proven functionalities. The economic endowment is 6,000 euros divided into three prizes.

Projects such as Cultiva+ Tenerife or the Analysis of the impact of tourism on housing show that there are ideas with the potential to become useful and sustainable tools. This second phase is the opportunity to materialize them.

Every year, the international open knowledge advocacy organization Open Knowledge Foundation (OKFN) organizes Open Data Day (ODD), a framework initiative that will bring together activities around the world to demonstrate the value of open data. It is a meeting point for public administrations, civil society, universities, technology companies and citizens interested in the reuse of public information. It is, above all, an invitation to move from theory to practice: to open data, reuse it and turn it into concrete solutions.

From datos.gob.es, national open data portal, we join this celebration by also compiling other activities that put data and related technologies at the center. In this post we review some events that will be held during this month of March. Take note and write down the agenda!

Data against misinformation: celebrate Open Data Day with Open Data Barcelona Initiative

This meeting is part of the activities organized in Spain on the occasion of Open Data Day 2026, and is focused on the role of open data as a tool to strengthen the quality of public information and combat disinformation. The event will give visibility to projects that use open data to promote a more transparent democracy, encourage informed citizen participation and contribute to the development of responsible artificial intelligence based on reliable data.

• When? On Tuesday, March 10 at 5:30 p.m.
• Where? Ca l'Alier C/ de Pere IV, 362 in Barcelona
• Learn more

The future of Open Data: OKFN's anniversary

On the occasion of Open Data Day 2026, the Open Knowledge Foundation (OKFN) is organizing an online conference to bring together the open data community and celebrate two decades of CKAN, the tool that emerged from OKFN's work that today powers data portals around the world. The meeting will provide an opportunity to discuss the current role of open data and data infrastructures in the face of contemporary technical and political challenges. It is aimed at professionals from governments, civil society, the media, activist groups and all those interested in reflecting on the future of open data in a rapidly changing technological context, marked especially by the emergence of artificial intelligence tools.

• When? On Wednesday, March 11 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Where? Online
• Learn more

Data as a public good:  European webinar

Organized by the data.europa.eu academy in the framework of Open Data Day, this webinar addresses how open data can act as a public good to improve decision-making in all territories, especially in rural areas. Through case studies from the United Kingdom and Ireland, the session will show how open information can identify local needs, reduce territorial inequalities and design evidence-based public policies that ensure more equitable access to essential services.

• When? Friday, March 13 from 10 a.m. to 11.30 a.m.
• Where? Online event
• Learn more

Solid World: innovation in the sharing and reuse of scientific data

This event will explore how to model, analyze, and share research data using technologies from the Solid* ecosystem. The session will feature representatives from W3C and Open Data Institute to present the SpOTy project, a web application for organizing and analyzing linguistic data that has migrated from RDF to Solid to give researchers greater control over the sharing of their data, also addressing challenges of interoperability and responsible reuse of scientific information.

*The Solid Ecosystem is a set of technologies, standards, and tools that enable individuals and organizations to control their own data on the web and decide how, when, and with whom it is shared.

• When? Monday, March 23 from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m.
• Where? Online event
• Learn more

How to prepare public portals for the AI era

The thirteenth edition of the Data Centric AI cycle, organized by the Open Data Institute (ODI), will explore how public data portals must evolve to adapt to new ways of interacting with datasets. It will address the transformation of infrastructures such as data.gov.uk, plans for the National Data Library and the role of academic research in the design of new public data architectures, combining preparation for artificial intelligence with a user-centric approach and reflecting on the social context surrounding data and AI.

• When? Thursday, March 26 from 5 pm to 6 pm
• Where? Online event
• Learn more

Online events on open data in different sectors with Open Data Week

 Open Data Week is an annual festival of events held every March in New York City and organized by the NYC Open Data team  in conjunction with BetaNYC and Data Through Design. The week commemorates the anniversary of the city's first open data law, signed on March 7, 2012, and also coincides with Open Data Day, reinforcing its connection with the international open data movement. Some of the scheduled activities will be in virtual format.

• When? From 22 to 29 March
• Where? Some events can be followed in streaming
• Learn more

Data ethics keys for organizations

This session of the Data Ethics Professionals cycle  organized by ODI will focus on the main lessons learned by organizations that have initiated processes of integrating data ethics into their structures and workflows. The seminar will address common challenges such as obtaining management support, the practical incorporation of ethical tools and frameworks, and the management of workloads in organizational transformation processes.

• When? On Monday, March 30 from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m.
• Where? Online
• Learn more

In short, the calendar for the coming weeks offers multiple opportunities to delve into the strategic value of open data and associated technologies. From local initiatives against disinformation to sectoral data spaces and European seminars on data as a public good, the ecosystem continues to grow and diversify. We encourage you to participate, share these calls and transfer the learnings to your organization. Because Open Data Day is just the starting point: true transformation is built throughout the year, connecting community, knowledge and action through open data.

These are some of the events that are scheduled for this month of March. In any case, don't forget to follow us on social networks so you don't miss any news about innovation and open data. We are on X and LinkedIn you can write to us if you need extra information.

In the last six months, the open data ecosystem in Spain has experienced intense activity marked by regulatory and strategic advances, the implementation of new platforms and functionalities in data portals, or the launch of innovative solutions based on public information.

In this article, we review some of those advances, so you can stay up to date. We also invite you to review the article on the news of the first half of 2025 so that you can have an overview of what has happened this year in the national data ecosystem.

Cross-cutting strategic, regulatory and policy developments

Data quality, interoperability and governance have been placed at the heart of both the national and European agenda, with initiatives seeking to foster a robust framework for harnessing the value of data as a strategic asset.

One of the main developments has been the launch of a new digital package by the European Commission in order to consolidate a robust, secure and competitive European data ecosystem. This package includes a digital bus to simplify the application of the Artificial Intelligence (AI) Regulation. In addition, it is complemented by the new Data Union Strategy,  which is structured around three pillars:

• Expand access to quality data to drive artificial intelligence and innovation.
• Simplify the existing regulatory framework to reduce barriers and bureaucracy.
• Protect European digital sovereignty from external dependencies.

Its implementation will take place gradually over the next few months. It will be then that we will be able to appreciate its effects on our country and the rest of the EU territories.

Activity in Spain has also been - and will be - marked by the V Open Government Plan 2025-2029, approved last October. This plan has more than 200 initiatives and contributions from both civil society and administrations, many of them related to the opening and reuse of data. Spain's commitment to open data has also been evident in its adherence to the International Open Data Charter, a global initiative that promotes the openness and reuse of public data as tools to improve transparency, citizen participation, innovation and accountability.

Along with the promotion of data openness, work has also been done on the development of data sharing spaces. In this regard, the UNE 0087 standard was presented, which is in addition to UNE specifications on data and defines for the first time in Spain the key principles and requirements for creating and operating in data spaces, improving their interoperability and governance.

More innovative data-driven solutions

Spanish bodies continue to harness the potential of data as a driver of solutions and policies that optimise the provision of services to citizens. Some examples are:

• The Ministry of Health and citizen science initiative, Mosquito Alert, are using artificial intelligence and automated image analysis to improve real-time detection and tracking of tiger mosquitoes and invasive species.
• The Valenciaport Foundation, together with other European organisations, has launched a free tool that allows the benefits of installing wind and photovoltaic energy systems in ports to be assessed.
• The Cabildo de la Palma opted for smart agriculture with the new Smart Agro website: farmers receive personalised irrigation recommendations according to climate and location. The Cabildo has also launched a viewer to monitor mobility on the island.
• The City Council of Segovia has implemented a digital twin that centralizes high-value applications and geographic data, allowing the city to be visualized and analyzed in an interactive three-dimensional environment. It improves municipal management and promotes transparency and citizen participation.
• Vila-real City Council has launched a digital application that integrates public transport, car parks and tourist spots in real time. The project seeks to optimize urban mobility and promote sustainability through smart technology.
• Sant Boi City Council has launched an interactive map made with open data that centralises information on urban transport, parking and sustainable options on a single platform, in order to improve urban mobility.
• The DataActive International Research Network has been inaugurated, an initiative funded by the Higher Sports Council that seeks to promote the design of active urban environments through the use of open data.

Not only public bodies reuse open data, universities are also working on projects linked to digital innovation based on public information:

• Students from the Universitat de València have designed projects that use AI and open data to prevent natural disasters.
• Researchers from the University of Castilla-La Mancha have shown that it is feasible to reuse air quality prediction models in different areas of Madrid using transfer learning.

In addition to solutions, open data can also be used to shape other types of products, including sculptures. This is the case of "The skeleton of climate change", a figure presented by the National Museum of Natural Sciences, based on data on changes in global temperature from 1880 to 2024.

New portals and functionalities to extract value from data

The solutions and innovations mentioned above are possible thanks to the existence of multiple platforms for opening or sharing data that do not stop incorporating new data sets and functionalities to extract value from them. Some of the developments we have seen in this regard in recent months are:

• The National Observatory of Technology and Society (ONTSI) has launched a new website. One of its new features is Ontsi Data, a tool for preparing reports with indicators from both its portal and third parties.
• The General Council of Notaries has launched a Housing Statistical Portal, an open tool with reliable and up-to-date data on the real estate market in Spain.
• The Spanish Agency for Food Safety and Nutrition (AESAN) has inaugurated on its website an open data space with microdata on the composition of food and beverages marketed in Spain.
• The Centre for Sociological Research (CIS) launched a renewed website, adapted to any device and with a more powerful search engine to facilitate access to its studies and data.
• The National Geographic Institute (IGN) has presented a new website for SIOSE, the Information System on Land Occupation in Spain, with a more modern, intuitive and dynamic design. In addition, it has made available to the public a new version of the Geographic Reference Information of Transport Networks (IGR-RT), segmented by provinces and modes of transport, and available in Shapefile and GeoPackage.
• The AKIS Advisors Platform, promoted by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, has launched a new open data API that allows registered users to download and reuse content related to the agri-food sector in Spain.
• The Government of Catalonia launched a new corporate website that centralises key aspects of European funds, public procurement, transparency and open data in a single point. It has also launched a website where it collects information on the AI systems it uses.
• PortCastelló has published its 2024 Proceedings in open data format. All the management, traffic, infrastructures and economic data of the port are now accessible and reusable by any citizen.
• Researchers from the Universitat Oberta de Catalunya and the Institute of Photonic Sciences have created an open library with data on 140 biomolecules. A pioneering resource that promotes open science and the use of open data in biomedicine.
• CitriData, a federated space for data, models and services in the Andalusian citrus value chain, was also presented. Its goal is to transform the sector through the intelligent and collaborative use of data.

Other organizations are immersed in the development of their novelties. For example, we will soon see the new Open Data Portal of Aguas de Alicante, which will allow public access to key information on water management, promoting the development of solutions based on Big Data and AI.

These months have also seen strategic advances linked to improving the quality and use of data, such as the Data Government Model of the Generalitat Valenciana or the Roadmap for the Provincial Strategy of artificial intelligence of the Provincial Council of Castellón.

Datos.gob.es also introduced a new platform aimed at optimizing both publishing and data access. If you want to know this and other news of the Aporta Initiative in 2025, we invite you to read this post.

Encouraging the use of data through events, resources and citizen actions

The second half of 2025 was the time chosen by a large number of public bodies to launch tenders aimed at promoting the reuse of the data they publish. This was the case of the Junta de Castilla y León, the Madrid City Council, the Valencia City Council and the Provincial Council of Bizkaia. Our country has also participated in international events such as the NASA Space Apps Challenge.

Among the events where the power of open data has been disseminated, the Open Government Partnership (OGP) Global Summit, the Iberian Conference on Spatial Data Infrastructures (JIIDE), the International Congress on Transparency and Open Government or the 17th International Conference on the Reuse of Public Sector Information of ASEDIE stand out.  although there were many more.

Work has also been done on reports that highlight the impact of data on specific sectors, such as the DATAGRI Chair 2025 Report of the University of Cordoba, focused on the agri-food sector. Other published documents seek to help improve data management, such as "Fundamentals of Data Governance in the context of data spaces", led by DAMA Spain, in collaboration with Gaia-X Spain.

Citizen participation is also critical to the success of data-driven innovation. In this sense, we have seen both activities aimed at promoting the publication of data and improving those already published or their reuse:

• The Barcelona Open Data Initiative requested citizen help to draw up a ranking of digital solutions based on open data to promote healthy ageing. They also organized a participatory activity to improve the iCuida app, aimed at domestic and care workers. This app allows you to search for public toilets, climate shelters and other points of interest for the day-to-day life of caregivers.
• The Spanish Space Agency launched a survey to find out the needs and uses of Earth Observation images and data within the framework of strategic projects such as the Atlantic Constellation.

In conclusion, the activities carried out in the second half of 2025 highlight the consolidation of the open data ecosystem in Spain as a driver of innovation, transparency and citizen participation. Regulatory and strategic advances, together with the creation of new platforms and solutions based on data, show a firm commitment on the part of institutions and society to take advantage of public information as a key resource for sustainable development, the improvement of services and the generation of knowledge.

As always, this article is just a small sample of the activities carried out. We invite you to share other activities that you know about through the comments.

The recent Meeting Forum between the Government of Spain and the Autonomous Communities has marked a turning point in how public administrations approach digital transformation. For the first time, the debate has not focused on convincing about the importance of data or the need to modernize processes, but on executing a coherent strategy that allows the deployment of AI to take advantage of its full potential. All this highlighting the importance of having a solid database of well-governed data that is useful for citizens.

The conclusions of the meeting, articulated in specialized working groups, outline a roadmap that confirms the maturity reached. Far from focusing solely on technological aspects, the forum has focused on where the challenge really lies: on the cultural, organisational and governance obstacles that will determine the success or failure of this transformation in the coming years. The debate took place in three working tables:

• Table 1: Unlocking the data, from the Standard to the Practice

• Table 2: Orchestration of Data, Symphony or Cacophony of Roles?

• Table 3: Sectoral Data Spaces, the Public Boost to Market Value

In this post we tell you the main conclusions.

Data as a strategic asset: from theory to practice

The starting point of the first table of the forum was to understand that the main challenge to turn data into a strategic asset is no longer technological. Administrations today have robust, stable and capable solutions. The real obstacle is cultural: overcoming the vision of data as a burden and consolidating it as an engine of innovation and public service.

Breaking this inertia, according to the participants in the forum, requires decisive leadership capable of aligning regulatory framework and technological capabilities. And, in this change, artificial intelligence is emerging as the catalyst because it highlights the hidden value of data and, above all, because it cannot function without overcoming the traditional administrative silos that still fragment public information.

One of the most repeated messages at this table was the still widespread fear of sharing information between organizations. The fear of taking responsibility creates barriers that limit the potential of public data. To reverse this situation, the need to combine clear mandates with strong incentives was underlined. It is not enough to order; you have to convince by showing real profits. Attractive  and mutually beneficial use cases are thus revealed as a fundamental tool to foster collaboration.

In relation to this, legal certainty also occupied a large part of the debate. Although it is often used as a reason to stop projects, participants stressed that it should not become an excuse for paralysis. The way forward is to clarify, simplify and harmonise the rules, evolving from an excessively legalistic approach to a model based on trust and the social value generated by the responsible use of data.

In addition, the key role of public-private collaboration was highlighted. Companies don't just bring technology, they can also accelerate innovation if they feel part of a stable and trusted ecosystem. To this end, administrations can offer guarantees of sovereignty and utility, and, in the event of a lack of reciprocity, resort to public procurement regulation to ensure participation.

Coordinating roles so that the orchestra does not go out of tune

On the other hand, the second table addressed one of the great challenges of the Public Administration: coordinating the multiple profiles necessary to manage, protect and exploit data in a context that is increasingly oriented towards AI. Nowadays, any administration can hire the same cloud  platforms or analysis tools. Technology has been democratized. What really sets one organization apart from another is the richness, quality, and governance of its data.

Therefore, for the organization to function as a fine-tuned orchestra, the synchronization of roles is essential. In this sense, the table underlined the need for superior strategic leadership from the figure of the CDO (Chief Data Officer) capable of establishing business priorities and coordinating the team. Its legitimacy must come from the highest levels of the organization, because without this support it is difficult to promote the required organizational and cultural changes. The CDO is not a merely technical role because, in addition, it plays a key role in guiding data governance from the perspective of usefulness and impact.

 The roles traditionally associated with regulatory compliance must also evolve. The Data Protection Officer (DPO) must become a strategic partner, co-responsible for risk and an active participant in decision-making. Only in this way will it be able to accompany the deployment of innovative projects based on data.

One of the most relevant consensuses was the central role of data quality. Although it is often perceived as a barrier that slows down innovation, the reality is just the opposite: quality is a non-negotiable requirement for developing ethical, robust and valid algorithms. AI cannot be built on opaque, inconsistent, or untraceable data without putting public trust at risk.

In addition, the value provided by historically consolidated disciplines within the Administration, such as statistics, cartography or open data, was highlighted. Far from being an anchor that slows down modernization, these specialties are a driver: their integration from the origin of the processes ensures that AI systems are fed with verified, traceable and top-quality data.

In conclusion, the table proposed moving towards multidisciplinary teams where engineers, business experts and legal managers work together throughout the data life cycle, avoiding the traditional compartmentalizations that weigh down digital projects so much.

Sectoral Data Spaces: from public impetus to the real market

The third table focused its analysis on a key element for the European data economy: the Sectoral Data Spaces. The Spanish public administrations showed a firm commitment to these developments, betting on a role of  promoters, facilitators and guarantors of trust.

The message was direct: these spaces must evolve towards sustainable business models. Public subsidies can serve as an initial impetus, but they cannot sustain projects that do not generate real value for the market. Demand, and not just the supply of funding, must validate the viability of these initiatives in the medium term.

One of the challenges identified is the scaling up of projects that are born in regional areas to national dimensions. To achieve a significant impact, a shared vision and close collaboration between Autonomous Communities (ACs) is essential, something that the Forum has reinforced precisely with this type of meeting. One of the key objectives of the Artificial Intelligence Strategy 2024 and the recent Data Union Strategy is for SMEs to be actively involved. To do this, you need to simplify technical barriers and communicate the value proposition clearly, in a business-oriented language rather than a technicality.

Finally, an optimistic message was delivered about talent. Although there is concern about the ability of the public sector to attract and retain specialized profiles in competition with the private sector, the table rejected the idea of resignation. The Administration is not condemned to a secondary role if it is able to strengthen and enhance its internal talent. Digital transformation requires leadership from the public sphere, and this leadership is possible with the right structures, opportunities for growth, and a shared vision.

Conclusion: a qualitative leap towards maturity

The 2025 Autonomous Communities Forum has served to consolidate a collective and mature vision of the role of data in the Administration. Overcoming silos, coordinating roles, simplifying standards, guaranteeing data quality and generating sustainable business models are essential steps for AI and the data economy to generate real value for citizens.

Spain is moving towards a model in which administrations stop focusing on the tool, to focus on utility; A model where collaboration – between agencies, with the private sector and between territories – is the key to unlocking the true potential of public data.

The 17th International Conference on the Reuse of Public Sector Information will be held on December 3 in Madrid. The Multisectoral Association of Information (ASEDIE) organizes this event every year, which in its new edition will take place at the Ministry for Digital Transformation and Public Function in Madrid. Under the slogan "When the standard is not enough: inequality in the application of data regulations", the current challenges around the reuse of public information and the need for agile and effective regulatory frameworks will be addressed.

Regulatory complexity, a challenge to be addressed

This event brings together national and European experts to address the reuse of data as a driver of innovation. Specifically, this year's edition focuses on the need to advance in a regulation that promotes a culture of openness in all administrations, avoiding regulatory fragmentation and ensuring that access to public information translates into a true economic and social value.

Through various presentations and round tables, some of the great current challenges in this area will be addressed: from regulatory simplification to facilitate the reuse of information to open government as a real practice.

The program of the Conference

The event will offer a comprehensive vision of how to move towards a fairer, more open and competitive information ecosystem.

The reception for attendees will take place between 09:00 and 09:30. At that time, the event will begin with the welcome and inauguration, which will be given by Ruth del Campo, general director of data (Secretary of State for Digitalization and Artificial Intelligence). It will be followed by two presentations by the Permanent Representation of Spain to the European Union, by Miguel Valle del Olmo, Minister of Digital Transformation, and Almudena Darias de las Heras, Minister of Justice.

Throughout the day there will be three round tables:

• 10:15 – 10:45. Roundtable I: Regulatory simplification and legal certainty: Pillars for an agile and efficient framework. Moderated by Ignacio Jiménez, president of ASEDIE, it will feature the participation of Ruth del Campo and Meritxell Borràs i Solé, director of the Catalan Authority for the Protection of Dades.
• 10:45 – 11:45. Table II: Transparency and Open Government: from theory to practice. Four participants will share their vision and experience in the field: Carmen Cabanillas, Director General of Public Governance (Secretary of State for Public Administration), José Luis Rodríguez Álvarez, President of the Council of Transparency and Good Governance, José Máximo López Vilaboa, Director General of Transparency and Good Governance (Junta de Castilla y León) and Ángela Pérez Brunete,  Director General of Transparency and Quality (Madrid City Council). The conversation will be moderated by Manuel Hurtado, member of the Board of Directors of ASEDIE.
• 12:35 – 13:35. Table III: Open and transparent registries. Prevent money laundering without slowing down competitiveness. Under the moderation of Valentín Arce, vice-president of ASEDIE, a conversation will take place led by Antonio Fuentes Paniagua, deputy director general of Notaries and Registries (Ministry of the Presidency, Justice and Relations with the Courts Antonio), Andrés Martínez Calvo, Consultant of the Centralised Prevention Body (General Council of Notaries), Carlos Balmisa, technical general secretary of the Association of Property and Commercial Registrars,      and José Luis Perea, general secretary of ATA Autónomos.

During the morning, the following items will also be delivered:

• The UNE 0080 certification (Guide to the evaluation of Data Quality Governance, Management and Management). This specification develops a homogeneous framework for assessing an organization's maturity with respect to data processing. Find out more about the UNE specifications related to data in this article.
• The ASEDIE 2025 Award. This international award recognizes each year individuals, companies or institutions that stand out for their contribution to the innovation and development of the infomediary sector. To make visible projects that promote the reuse of public sector information (RISP), highlighting its role in the development of both the Spanish and global economy. You can meet the winners in previous editions here.

The event will end at 1:45 p.m., with a few words from Ignacio Jiménez.

You can see the detailed program on the ASEDIE website.

How to Attend

The 17th ASEDIE Conference is an essential event for those working in the field of information reuse, transparency and data-based innovation. 

This year's event can only be attended in person at the Ministry for Digital Transformation and Public Function (c/ Mármol, 2, Parque Empresarial Rio 55, 28005, Madrid). It is necessary to register through their website.

From today, September 15, registration is open for one of the most important events in the geospatial sector in the Iberian Peninsula. The XVI Iberian Conference on Spatial Data Infrastructures (JIIDE 2025) will be held in Oviedo from 12 to 14 November 2025. This annual meeting represents a unique opportunity to explore the latest trends in spatial data reuse, especially in the context of the application of artificial intelligence to territorial knowledge.

Since its first edition in 2011, the JIIDEs have evolved as a result of collaboration between the Direção-Geral do Território de Portugal, the National Geographic Institute of Spain through the National Center for Geographic Information, and the Government of Andorra. In this sixteenth edition, the Ministry of Territorial Planning, Urban Planning, Housing and Citizens' Rights of  the Principality of Asturias and the University of Oviedo also join, thus consolidating an initiative that brings together hundreds of professionals from the Public Administration, the private sector and the academic field every year.

For three days, experts with proven experience and technical knowledge in geographic information will share their most innovative developments, work methodologies and success stories in the management and reuse of spatial data.

Two axes: artificial intelligence and the INSPIRE and HVDS regulatory framework

The central theme of this edition, "AI and territory: exploring the new frontiers of spatial knowledge", reflects the natural evolution of the sector towards the incorporation of emerging technologies. Artificial intelligence, machine learning, and advanced analytics algorithms are radically transforming the way we process, analyze, and extract value from geospatial data.

This orientation towards AI is not accidental. The publication and use of geospatial data makes it possible to harness one of the most valuable digital assets for economic development, environmental monitoring, competitiveness, innovation and job creation. When this data is combined with artificial intelligence techniques, its potential multiplies exponentially.

The conference takes place at a particularly relevant time for the open data ecosystem. The INSPIRE Directive, together with Directive (EU) 2019/1024 on open data and re-use of public sector information, has established a regulatory framework that explicitly recognises the economic and social value of digital geospatial data.

The evolution in the publication of high-value datasets marks an important milestone in this process. These sets, characterized by their great potential for reuse, should be available free of charge, in machine-readable formats and through application programming interfaces (APIs). Geospatial data occupies a central position in this categorisation, underlining its strategic importance for the European open data ecosystem.

JIIDE 2025 will devote particular attention to presenting practical examples of re-use of these high-value datasets , both through the new OGC APIs and through traditional download services and established interoperable formats. This practical approach will allow attendees to learn about real cases of implementation and their tangible results.

Miscellaneous Program: Use Cases, AI, and Geospatial Data Reuse

You can also check the program here. Among the planned activities, there are sessions ranging from fundamental technical aspects to innovative applications that demonstrate the transformative potential of this data. The activities are organized into five main themes:

1. Spatial data structure and metadata.

2. Data management and publication.

3. Development of spatial  software.

4. Artificial intelligence.

5. Cooperation between agents.

Some of the highlighted topics are project management and coordination, where corporate systems such as the SIG of the Junta de Andalucía or the SITNA of the Government of Navarra will be presented. Earth observation will also feature prominently, with presentations on the evolution of the National Plan for Aerial Orthophotography (APNOA) programme  and advanced deep learning image processing techniques.

On the other hand, thematic visualisers also represent another fundamental axis, showing how spatial data can be transformed into accessible tools for citizens. From eclipse visualizers to tools for calculating the solar potential of rooftops, developments will be presented that demonstrate how the creative reuse of data can generate services of high social value.

Following the annual theme, the application of AI to geospatial data will be approached from multiple perspectives. Use cases will be presented in areas as diverse as the automatic detection of sports facilities, the classification of LiDAR point clouds, the identification of hazardous materials such as asbestos, or the optimization of urban mobility.

One of the most relevant sessions for the open data community will focus specifically on "Reuse and Open Government". This session will address the integration of spatial data infrastructures into open data portals, spatial data metadata according to the GeoDCAT-AP standard, and the application of data quality regulations.

Local governments play a key role in the generation and publication of spatial data. For this reason, the JIIDE 2025 will dedicate a specific session to the publication of local data, where municipalities such as Barcelona, Madrid, Bilbao or Cáceres will share their experiences and developments.

In addition to the theoretical sessions, the conferences include practical workshops on specific tools, methodologies and technologies. These workshops, lasting 45 minutes to an hour, allow attendees to experiment directly with the solutions presented. Some of them address the creation of custom web geoportals and others, for example, the implementation of OGC APIs, through advanced visualization techniques and metadata management tools.

Participate in person or online

The JIIDEs maintain their commitment to open participation, inviting both researchers and professionals to present their tools, technical solutions, work methodologies and success stories. In addition, the JIIDE 2025 will be held in hybrid mode, allowing both face-to-face participation in Oviedo and virtual monitoring.

This flexibility, maintained from the experiences of recent years, ensures that professionals throughout the Iberian territory and beyond can benefit from shared knowledge. Participation remains free, although prior registration is required for each session, roundtable or workshop.

Starting today, you can sign up and take advantage of this opportunity to learn and exchange experiences on geospatial data. Registration is available on the official website of the event: https://www.jiide.org/web/portal/inicio

Summer is coming to an end and giving way to an autumn that is full of relevant events for the open data sector and related technologies. At this time of year, you can take part in innovative competitions, learn about European data spaces and discuss the transformative power of data in society. Take note of these opportunities, many of them free. We bring you a compilation of trainings, conferences, events, competitions and much more.

Madrid City Council Open Data Competition

This year, for the first time, the Madrid City Council joins the promotion of open data with a new competition that seeks to promote the reuse of municipal public information to develop innovative solutions.

The challenge is clear: to turn data into useful, original and impactful ideas. If you think you can do it, below, we summarize the information you must take into account to compete.

• When? Until September 9.

• Where? You can submit your proposal online in any of these areas:

• More information: check the rules and participate here.

IX edition of the Open Data Contest of Castilla y León

The Regional Government of Castilla y León launches the ninth edition of its competition, to recognize projects that use open datasets from  the portal of the Junta de Castilla y León. These datasets can be combined, if the participants so wish, with other public or private sources, at any level of administration.

• When? Until September 22.

• Where? Applications may be submitted in person or through the electronic headquarters of the Junta de Castilla y León. The categories are:

• More information: access all the information here.

Free GIS Conferences

A reference meeting for professionals and enthusiasts of free Geographic Information Systems (GIS), where the latest trends in open geotechnologies will be presented.

This event is the perfect place to share knowledge, explore new tools and discuss topics such as:

• Visualization and spatial analysis.

• Webmapping and software development.

• Earth observation and data science.

• Geostatistics and machine learning.

• When? On September 17 and 18.

• Where? At the University of Girona, offering accommodation at the Hotel Carlemany.

• More information: see the full program.

XLI SEPLN Congress 2025 - Presence of the ILENIA Project

The International Congress of the Society for Natural Language Processing (SEPLN) celebrates its 41st edition this year. The main objective of this event is to provide a meeting space between the scientific community and industry to present and discuss the latest advances, challenges and applications of NLP.

This forum will be an excellent opportunity to share R+D+i projects, as well as to learn about success stories and practical applications that are transforming various sectors. In addition, the participation of new professionals  will be encouraged and will include the participation of the ILENIA project, an initiative that seeks to promote the new digital economy based on natural language in Spain.

• When? From 23 to 26 September.

• Where? In Zaragoza.

• More information: learn more about the event.

Webinar on the European Tourism Data Space

This webinar, organised by the European Open Data Portal, will address the deployment of the Common European Tourism Data Space (ETDS), a key initiative for the digitalisation of the tourism sector.

In this session, an expert from the project DEPLOYTOUR You'll share valuable insights into your goals, best practices, and lessons learned. In addition, two practical use cases (Pleiades and EONA-X) showing how the ETDS is applied in real tourism contexts, fostering cross-border collaboration and promoting the digitalisation and green transition of the sector.

• When? On September 12 from 10 am to 11 am (CET).

• Where? Virtual.

• More information: Register here.

EURegions Week

This event provides a communication and networking platform to foster cooperation, knowledge sharing, and address regional and urban challenges, including sessions focused on driving data-driven approaches. With a unique thematic focus each year, EURegionsWeek combines innovative and participatory sessions with traditional workshops, providing opportunities for collaboration and learning.

In addition, participation is completely free, and registration will be open until September 30.

• When? From 13 to 15 October.

• Where? In Brussels and online.

• More information: access the event information.

ENDORSE - The European Data Conference on Reference Data and Semantics

This European conference focused on semantic data is organised by the Publications Office of the European Union and will address the latest developments in data standards and interoperability. The theme of this edition is 'Reference Data and AI: Transforming Data into Action across Borders and Languages', a topic that has become even more relevant since the entry into force of the EU Artificial Intelligence Act on 1 August 2024.

In addition to the keynotes, ENDORSE 2025 will highlight a number of networking opportunities, allowing attendees to interact with experts through interactive workshops and panel discussions.

• When? On October 8 and 9.

• Where? In Brussels.

• Learn more: Key event details.

These are some of the events that are scheduled for this fall. In any case, don't forget to follow us on social networks so you don't miss any news about innovation and open data. We are on Instagram, X and LinkedIn, and you can also write to us at dinamizacion@datos.gob.es if you want us to include any other events to the list or if you need extra information.

Once again, the Junta de Castilla y León has launched its open data contest to reward the innovative use of public information.

In this post, we summarize the details to participate in the IX edition of this event, which is an opportunity for both professionals and students, creative people or multidisciplinary teams who wish to give visibility to their talent through the reuse of public data.

What does the competition consist of?

The aim of the competition is to recognize projects that use open datasets from the Junta de Castilla y León. These datasets can be combined, if the participants wish, with other public or private sources, at any level of administration.

Projects can be submitted in four categories:

• Ideas category: aimed at people or teams who want to submit a proposal to create a service, studio, application, website or any other type of development. The project does not need to be completed; the important thing is that the idea is original, viable and has a potential positive impact.
• Products and services category: designed for projects already developed and accessible to citizens, such as online services, mobile applications or websites. All developments must be available via a public URL. This category includes a specific award for students enrolled in official education during the 2024/2025 or 2025/2026 school years.
• Didactic resource category: aimed at educational projects that use open data as a support tool in the classroom. The aim is to promote innovative teaching through Creative Commons licensed resources, which can be shared and reused by teachers and students.
• Data journalism category: it will reward journalistic works published or updated in a relevant way, in written or audiovisual format, that make use of open data to inform, contextualize or analyze topics of interest to citizens. The journalistic pieces must have been published in a printed or digital media since September 24, 2024, the day following the end date of the deadline for submission of candidacies of the immediately preceding call for awards.

In all categories, it is essential that at least one dataset from the open data portal of the Junta de Castilla y León is used. This platform has hundreds of datasets on different sectors such as the environment, economy, society, public administration, culture, education, etc. that can be used as a basis to develop useful, informative and transformative ideas.

Who can participate?

The competition is open to any natural or legal person, who can be presented individually or in a group. In addition, you can submit more than one application even for different categories. Although the same project may not receive more than one award, this flexibility allows the same idea to be explored from different approaches: educational, journalistic, technical or conceptual.

What prizes are awarded?

The 2025 edition of the contest includes prizes with a financial endowment, accrediting diploma and institutional dissemination through the open data portal and other communication channels of the Board.

The distribution and amount of the prizes by category is:

• Ideas category
  
  • First prize: €1,500
  • Second prize: €500
• Category products & services
  
  • First prize: €2,500
  • Second prize: €1,500
  • Third prize: €500
  • Special Student Prize: €1,500
• Category teaching resource
  
  • First prize: €1,500
• Data journalism category
  
  • First prize: €1,500
  • Second prize: €1,000

Under what criteria are the prizes awarded? The jury will assess the candidatures considering different evaluation criteria, as set out in the rules and the order of call, including their originality, social utility, technical quality, feasibility, impact, economic value and degree of innovation.

How to participate?

As in other editions, candidacies can be submitted in two ways:

• In person, at the General Registry of the Ministry of the Presidency, at the registry assistance offices of the Junta de Castilla y León or at the places established in article 16.4 of Law 39/2015.
• Electronics, through the electronic headquarters of the Junta de Castilla y León

Each application must include:

• Identification data of the author(s).
• Title of the project.
• Category or categories to which it is submitted.
• An explanatory report of the project, with a maximum length of 1,000 words, providing all the information that can be assessed by the jury according to the established scale.
• In the case of submitting an application to the Products and Services category, the URL to access the project will be specified

The deadline to submit proposals is September 22, 2025

With this contest, the Junta de Castilla y León reaffirms its commitment to the open data policy and the culture of reuse. The competition not only recognizes the creativity, innovation and usefulness of the projects presented, but also contributes to disseminating the transformative potential of open data in areas such as education, journalism, technology or social entrepreneurship.

In previous editions, solutions to improve mobility, interactive maps on forest fires, tools for the analysis of public expenditure or educational resources on the rural environment, among many other examples, have been awarded. You can read more about last year's winning proposals and others on our website. In addition, all these projects can be consulted in the history of winners available on the community's open data portal.

We encourage you to participate in the contest and get the most out of open data in Castilla y León!

Madrid City Council has launched an initiative to demonstrate the potential of open data: the first edition of the Open Data Reuse Awards 2025. With a total budget of 15,000 euros, this competition seeks to promote the reuse of the data shared by the council on its open data portal, demonstrating that they can be a driver of social innovation and citizen participation.

The challenge is clear: to turn data into useful, original and impactful ideas. If you think you can do it, below, we summarize the information you must consider to compete.

Who can participate?

The competition is open to practically everyone: from individuals to companies or groups of any kind. The only condition is to submit a project carried out between September 10, 2022 and September 9, 2025 and that uses at least one dataset  from the Madrid City Council's open data portal as a base. Data from other public and private sources can also be used, as long as the  Madrid City Council datasets are a key part of the project.

Of course, projects that have already been awarded, contracted or financed by the City Council itself are not accepted, nor are works submitted after the deadline or without the required documentation.

What projects can be submitted?

There are four main areas in which you can participate:

• Web services and applications: refers to projects that provide services, studios, web applications, or mobile apps.
• Studies, research and ideas: refers to projects of exploration, analysis or description of ideas aimed at the creation of services, studies, visualizations, web applications or mobile apps. Bachelor's and master's degree final university projects can also participate in this category.
• Proposals to improve the quality of the open data portal: includes projects, services, applications or initiatives that contribute to boosting the quality of the datasets published on the Madrid City Council's open data portal.
• Data visualizations: you can participate in this category with various content, such as maps, graphs, tables, 3D models, digital art, web applications and animations. Representations can be static, such as infographics, posters, or figures in publications, or dynamic, including videos, interactive dashboards, and stories.

What are the prizes?

For each category, two prizes for different economic endowments are awarded:

Figure 1. Prize money for the first edition of the 2025 Open Data Reuse Awards. Source: Madrid City Council.

Beyond the economic prize, this call is a great opportunity to give visibility to ideas that take advantage of the transparency and potential of open data. In addition, if the proposal improves public services, solves a real problem or helps to better understand the city, it will have great value that goes far beyond recognition.

How are projects valued?

A jury will evaluate each project by assigning a maximum score of 50 points, which will take into account aspects such as originality, social benefit, technical quality, accessibility, ease of use, or even design, in the case of visualizations. If deemed necessary, the jury may request further information submitted to the participants.

The two projects with the highest score will win, although to be considered, the proposals must reach at least 25 points out of a possible 50. If none of them meets this requirement, the category will be declared void.

The jury will be made up of representatives from different areas of the City Council, with experience in innovation, transparency, technology and data. A representative of ASEDIE (Multisectoral Association of Information), the association that promotes the reuse and distribution of information in Spain, will also participate.

How do I participate?

The deadline to register is September 9, 2025 at 11:59 p.m. In the case of natural people, the application can be submitted:

• Online through the City Council's Electronic Office. This procedure requires identification and electronic signature.
• In person at municipal service offices.

In the case of legal people, they may only submit their candidacy electronically.

In any case, the official form must be completed and accompanied by a report explaining the project, its operation, its benefits, the use of the data, and if possible, including screenshots, links or prototypes.

You can see the complete rules here.

More than 90,000 people from all over the world participated in the latest edition of the Space App Challenge. This annual two-day event, organized by the US space agency, NASA, is an opportunity to innovate and learn about the advantages that open space data can offer.

This year the competition will be held on October 4 and 5. Through a hackathon, participants will engage first-hand with NASA's most relevant missions and research. It's an opportunity to learn how to launch and lead projects through hands-on use of NASA data in the real world. In addition, it is a free activity open to anyone (those under 18 years of age must be accompanied by a legal guardian).

In this post, we tell you some of the keys you need to know about this global benchmark event.

Where is it held?

Under the banner of the Space Apps Challenge, virtual and face-to-face events take place all over the world. Specifically, in Spain, meetings are held in several cities:

• Barcelona
  
  • Where: in person, at 42 Barcelona (Carrer D'Albert Einstein 11).
• Madrid
  
  • Where: face-to-face, at the School of Digital Competences – San Blas Digital (Calle Amposta, 34).
• Murcia
  
  • Where: in person at UCAM HITECH (Av. Andrés Hernandez Ros, 1, Guadalupe).
• Malaga
  
  • Where: Face-to-face, at a location to be determined (you can contact the event organizer through the link).
• Pamplona
  
  • Where: face-to-face and virtual, in a location to be determined (you can contact the event organization through the link)
• San Vicente del Raspeig (Alicante)
  
  • Where: in person, at the Alicante Science Park (University of Alicante, San Vicente del Raspeig).
• Seville
  
  • Where: Face-to-face, at a location yet to be determined (you can contact the event organizer via the link).
• Valencia
  
  • Where: in person, at the UPV Student House, Polytechnic University of Valencia (Camino de Vera, s/n Building 4K).
• Zaragoza
  
  • Where: in person, at the Betancourt Building, Río Ebro Campus (EINA) Calle María de Luna, 1.

All of them will have a welcome ceremony on Friday, October 3 at 5:30 p.m . in which the details of the competition will be presented, the teams and the themes of each challenge will be organized.

To participate in any of the events, you can register individually and the organization will help you find a team. You can also register your team directly (of a maximum of 6 people).

If you can't find any in-person events near you, you can sign up for the universal event that will be online.

Are there any prizes?

Yes! Each event will award its own prizes. In addition, NASA recognizes, each year, ten global awards divided into different categories:

• Best Use of Science Award: recognizes the project that makes the most valid and outstanding use of science and/or the scientific method.

• Best Data Use Award: awarded to the project that makes spatial data more accessible or uses it in a unique way.

• Best Use of Technology Award: distinguishes the project that represents the most innovative use of technology.

• Galactic Impact Award: awarded to the project with the greatest potential to improve life on Earth or in the universe.

• Best Mission Concept Award: recognizes the project with the most plausible concept and design.

• Most Inspiring Award: It is awarded to the project that manages to move and inspire the public.

• Best Narrative Award: Highlights the project that most creatively communicates the potential of open data through the art of storytelling.

• Global Connection Award: awarded to the project that best connects people around the world through technology.

• Art and Technology Award: recognizes the project that most effectively combines technical and creative skills.

• Local Impact Award: awarded to the project that demonstrates the greatest potential to generate impact at the local level.

Figure 1. Space App Challenge Awards. Source: https://www.spaceappschallenge.org/brand/

From Gijón to the world: the Spanish project awarded in 2024

In last year's edition, a Spanish project, specifically from Gijón, won the global award for best mission concept with its Landsat Connect application proposal. The AsturExplorer team developed a web application designed to provide a fast, simple and intuitive way to track the path of Landsat satellites and access surface reflectance data. Their project fostered interdisciplinary and scientific learning capacities, and empowered citizens.

The Landsat program consists of a series of Earth observation satellite missions, jointly managed by NASA and the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), providing images and data about our planet since 1972.

End users of the app developed by AsturExplorer can set a destination location and receive notifications in advance to know when the Landsat satellite will pass over each area. This allows users to prepare and take their own measurements on the ground and obtain pixel data without the need to constantly monitor satellite schedules.

The AsturExplorer team used open Landsat data from NASA and Earth Explorer. They also made use of artificial intelligence to understand the technical problem and compare multiple alternatives. You can read more about this use case here.

How do I register?

The Space App Challenge website offers a section of frequently asked questions and a video tutorial to facilitate registration. The process is simple:

1. Create an account
2. Register for the Hackathon
3. Choose a local event
4. Join a team and form your own
5. Submit a project (before 11.59am on 5 October)
6. Complete the Engagement Survey

We encourage you to be part of this global benchmark event where you will reuse open datasets. A great opportunity!