eventos

Once again this year, the IV National Open Data Meeting (ENDA) is presented as an essential event for professionals, public administrations and citizens interested in the transformative potential of open data in our society. Under the slogan "Data in the culture of open knowledge", this event will focus on the fundamental role of open culture in the digital society of the 21st century.

Open culture promotes the creation and exchange of content without licence restrictions, allowing its free accessibility and reuse. Open, publicly available data is a fundamental pillar of this concept, as it can be used by any person or entity to develop new applications, analyses and services, thus fostering innovation and collaborative work.

The event will take place on 16 May 2025 at the Auditorio Jameos del Agua, Lanzarote, from 9:30 to 17:00. It is important to note that this is an exclusively face-to-face event, without live broadcasting, with a capacity limited to 100 people.

ENDA's trajectory: a journey through open data

Today, the National Open Data Meeting has established itself as a space of reference for reflection and debate on the use of open data as an engine for development and social progress. Since its first edition in 2022, each meeting has addressed specific themes of great relevance:

• 2022: use of open data to promote territorial cohesion and combat depopulation.
• 2023: Dissemination and re-use of data to address the environmental challenge.
• 2024: boosting the tourism sector through open data.
• 2025: the culture of open knowledge in the digital society of the 21st century.

Objectives and key data of the IV ENDA

This year's event is organised under the brand Canarias Datos Abiertos by the following institutions: Cabildo Insular de Lanzarote, and these three institutions of the Canary Islands Government: Directorate General for the Digital Transformation of Public Services, Directorate General for Transparency and Citizen Participation and the Canary Islands Statistics Institute.

This year, the main purpose of this meeting is to generate a space for reflection and debate on how open data can contribute to the development and progress of our society, especially in the context of public administrations. In addition, two complementary objectives are pursued:

1. Competence development: promoting skills and knowledge among public administration staff to maximise the use of open data.
2. Improving public policies: enriching decision-making thanks to the information generated and shared through these meetings.

Programme: a journey through open knowledge

The Meeting, presented by Marc Garriga Portolà (CEO of DesideDatum Data Company), is structured to offer a complete vision of open culture and data as a catalyst for knowledge:.

Morning

• 10:00 - Official opening by representatives of the Cabildo de Lanzarote and the Canary Islands Government.
• 10:20 - Presentation on transforming data-centric organisations using knowledge networks, with the case of the European Railway Agency as a practical example.
• 11:00 - Round table "Open data for a science at the service of public decisions", with representatives from CSIC, FECYT and the Ministry of Transport.
• 11:45 - Round table: "Open culture: how data brings us closer to knowledge", with experts from the Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, the Ministry of Culture and the National Library.

Afternoon

• 14:00 - Presentation of the IV ENDA challenge.
•  14:30 - Roundtable: "Unlocking the potential of open data", with specialists from the R Hispano community, OpenStreetMap Spain and the Open Knowledge Foundation..
• 15:15 - Round table: "Open administrations at the service of citizens", with representatives from different levels of public administration.
• 16:00 - Conclusions.
• 16:30 - Official closing.

Who is it aimed at?

The IV ENDA is specially designed for:

• Data governance managers and managers of open data portals in public administrations.
• Technical staff and professionals involved in open data management, both in the public sector and in other organisations.
• Administration staff at state, territorial and local level.
• Journalists and communication professionals interested in the potential of open data.
• General public with an interest in transparency and open knowledge.

This meeting offers a unique opportunity to:

1. Connect with experts in open data and open knowledge culture.
2. To learn about case studies of data-driven organisational transformation.
3. Discover tools and methodologies for the efficient management of open data.
4. Participate in discussions on the application of open data in different areas.
5. To contribute to the reflection on the future of administrations open to citizen service.

How to participate: registration

Registration will be open from today, 7 April, until 30 April (provisional date). To secure your place in this limited capacity event, you must access the registration form that will be available from today.

The culture of open knowledge is an approach full of opportunities, discover them at the 4th National Open Data Meeting. This meeting aims to be a space for the exchange of ideas, experiences and best practices. Stay tuned to our social networks so you don't miss anything. You can also follow the networks of the Canary Islands Statistics Institute (ISTAC) which will be disseminating all the information related to the event both on Twitter and LinkedIn.

 More information about the event: https://encuentrosdatosabiertos.es/

Once again this year, the European Commission organised the EU Open Data Day, one of the world's leading open data and innovation events. On 19-20 March, the European Convention Centre in Luxembourg brings together experts, government officials and academics to share knowledge, experience and progress on open data in Europe.

 During these two intense days, which also could be followed online explored crucial topics such as governance, quality, interoperability and the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on open data. This event has become an essential forum for fostering the development of policies and practices that promote transparency and data-driven innovation across the European Union. In this post, we review each of the presentations at the event.

Openness and data history

To begin with, the Director General of the European Union Publications Office, Hilde Hardeman, opened the event by welcoming the attendees and setting the tone for the discussions to follow. Helena Korjonen and Emma Schymanski, two experts from the University of Luxembourg, then presented a retrospective entitled "A data journey: from darkness to enlightenment", exploring the evolution of data storage and sharing over 18,000 years. From cave paintings to modern servers, this historical journey highlighted how many of today's open data challenges, such as ownership, preservation and accessibility, have deep roots in human history.

This was followed by a presentation by Slava Jankin, Professor at the Centre for AI in Government at the University of Birmingham, on AI-driven digital twins and open data to create dynamic simulations of governance systems, which allow policymakers to test reforms and predict outcomes before implementing them.

Use cases between open data and AI

On the other hand, several use cases were also presented, such as Lithuania's practical experience in the comprehensive cataloguing of public data. Milda Aksamitauskas of the University of Wisconsin, addressed the governance challenges and communication strategies employed in the project and presented lessons on how other countries could adapt similar methods to improve transparency and data-driven decision-making.

In relation, scientific coordinator Bastiaan van Loenen presented the findings of the project he is working on, ODECO of Horizon 2020, focusing on the creation of sustainable open data ecosystems. As van Loenen explained, the research, which has been conducted over four years by 15 researchers, has explored user needs and governance structures for seven different groups, highlighting how circular, inclusive and skills-based approaches can provide economic and social value to open data ecosystems.

In addition, artificial intelligence was at the forefront throughout the event. Assistant Professor Anastasija Nikiforova from the University of Tartu offered a revealing insight into how artificial intelligence can transform government open data ecosystems. In his presentation, "Data for AI or AI for data" he explored eight different roles that AI can play. For example, AI can serve as a open data portal 'cleanser' and even retrieve data from the ecosystem, providing valuable insights for policymakers and researchers on how to effectively leverage AI in open data initiatives.

 Also using AI-powered tools, we find the EU Open Research Repository launched by Zenodo in 2024, an open science initiative that provides a tailored research repository for EU research funding recipients. Lars Holm Nielsen's presentation dhighlighted how AI-driven tools and high-quality open datasets reduce the cost and effort of data cleaning, while ensuring adherence to the FAIR principles.

The day continued with a speech by Maroš Šefčovič, European Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security, Inter-institutional Relations and Transparency, who underlined the European Commission's commitment to open data as a key pillar for transparency and innovation in the European Union.

Interoperability and data quality

After a break, Georges Lobo and Pavlina Fragkou, programme and project coordinator of SEMIC respectively, explained how the Semantic Interoperability Centre Europe (SEMIC) improves interoperable data exchange in Europe through theData Catalogue Vocabulary Application Profile (DCAT-AP) and Linked Data Event Streams (LDES). His presentation highlighted how these standards facilitate the efficient publication and consumption of data, with case studies such as the Rijksmuseum and the European Union Railway Agency demonstrating their value in fostering interoperable and sustainable data ecosystems.

Barbara Šlibar from the University of Zagreb then provided a detailed analysis of metadata quality in European open datasets, revealing significant disparities in five key dimensions. His study, based on random samples from data.europa.eu, underlined the importance of improving metadata practices and raising awareness among stakeholders to improve the usability and value of open data in Europe.

Then, Bianca Sammer, from Bavarian Agency for Digital Affairs shared her experience creating Germany's open data portal in just one year. His presentation "Unlocking the Potential" highlighted innovative solutions to overcome challenges in open data management. For example, they achieved an automated improvement of metadata quality, a reusable open source infrastructure and participation strategies for public administrations and users.

Open data today and on the horizon

The second day started with interventions by Rafał Rosiński, Undersecretary of State at the Ministry of Digital Affairs of Poland, who presented the Polish Presidency's perspective on open data and digital transformation, and Roberto Viola, Director General of the European Commission's Directorate-General for Communication Networks, Content and Technology, who spoke about the European path to digital innovation.

After the presentation of the day, the presentations on use cases and innovative proposals in open databegan. First, Stefaan Verhulst, co-founder of the New York governance lab GovLab, dubbed the historic moment we are living through as the "fourth wave of open data" characterised by the integration of generative artificial intelligence with open data to address social challenges.. His presentation raised crucial questions about how AI-based conversational interfaces can improve accessibility, what it means for open data to be "AI-ready" and how to build sustainable data-driven solutions that balance openness and trust.

Christos Ellinides, Director General for Translation at the European Commission, then highlighted the importance of language data for AI on the continent. With 25 years of data spanning multiple languages and the expertise to develop multilingual services based on artificial intelligence, the Commission is at the forefront in the field of linguistic data spaces and in the use of European high-performance computing infrastructures to exploit data and AI.

Open data re-use use cases

Reuse brings multiple benefits. Kjersti Steien, from the Norwegian digitisation agency, presented Norway's national data portal, data.norge.no, which employs an AI-powered search engine to improve data discoverability. Using Google Vertex, the engine allows users to find relevant datasets without needing to know the exact terms used by data providers, demonstrating how AI can improve data reuse and adapt to emerging language models.

Beyond Norway, use cases from other cities and countries were also discussed. Sam Hawkins, Ember's UK Data Programme Manager, underlined the importance of open energy data in advancing the clean energy transition and ensuring system flexibility.

Another case was presented by Marika Eik from the University of Estonia, which leverages urban data and cross-sector collaboration to improve sustainability and community impact. His session examined a city-level approach to sustainability metrics and CO2 footprint calculations, drawing on data from municipalities, real estate operators, research institutions and mobility analysts to provide replicable models for improving environmental responsibility.

Raphaël Kergueno of Transparency International EU explained how Integrity Watch EU leverages open data to improve transparency and accountability in the Union. This initiative re-uses datasets such as the EU Transparency Register and the European Commission's meeting records to increase public awareness of lobbying activities and improve legislative oversight, demonstrating the potential of open data to strengthen democratic governance.

Also, Kate Larkin of the European Marine Observatory, presented the European Marine Observation and Data Network, highlighting how pan-European marine data services, which adhere to the FAIR principles contribute to initiatives such as the European Green Pact, maritime spatial planning and the blue economy. His presentation showed practical use cases demonstrating the integration of marine data into wider data ecosystems such as the European Digital Twin Ocean.

Data visualisation and communication

In addition to use cases, the EU Open Data Days 2025 highlighted data visualisation as a mechanism to bring open data to the people. In this vein, Antonio Moneo, CEO of Tangible Data, explored how transforming complex datasets into physical sculptures fosters data literacy and community engagement.

On the other hand, Jan Willem Tulp, founder of TULP interactive, examined how visual design influences the perception of data. His session explored how design elements such as colour, scale and focus can shape narratives and potentially introduce bias, highlighting the responsibilities of data visualisers to maintain transparency while crafting compelling visual narratives.

Education and data literacy

Davide Taibi, researcher at the Italian National Research Council, shared experiences on the integration of data literacy and AI in educational pathways, based on EU-funded projects such as DATALIT, DEDALUS and SMERALD. These initiatives piloted digitally enhanced learning modules in higher education, secondary schools and vocational training in several EU Member States, focusing on competence-oriented approaches and IT-based learning systems.

Nadieh Bremer, founder of Visual Cinnamon, explored how creative approaches to data visualisation can reveal the intricate bonds between people, cultures and concepts. Examples included a family tree of 3,000 European royals, relationships in UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage and cross-cultural constellations in the night sky, demonstrating how iterative design processes can uncover hidden patterns in complex networks.

Digital artist Andreas Refsgaard closed the presentations with a reflection on the intersection of generative AI, art and data science. Through artistic and engaging examples, he invited the audience to reflect on the vast potential and ethical dilemmas arising from the growing influence of digital technologies in our daily lives.

In summary, the EU Open Data Day 2025 has once again demonstrated the importance of these meetings in driving the evolution of the open data ecosystem in Europe. The discussions, presentations and case studies shared during these two days have highlighted not only the progress made, but also the remaining challenges and emerging opportunities. In a context where artificial intelligence, sustainability and citizen participation are transforming the way we use and value data, events like this one are essential to foster collaboration, share knowledge and develop strategies that maximise the social and economic value of open data. The continued engagement of European institutions, national governments, academia and civil society will be essential to build a more robust, accessible and impactful open data ecosystem that responds to the challenges of the 21st century and contributes to the well-being of all European citizens.

 You can return to the recordings of each lecture here.

March is approaching and with it a new edition of the Open Data Day. It is an annual worldwide celebration that has been organised for 12 years, promoted by the Open Knowledge Foundation through the Open Knowledge Network. It aims to promote the use of open data in all countries and cultures.

This year's central theme is "Open data to address the polycrisis". The term polycrisis refers to a situation where different risks exist in the same time period. This theme aims to focus on open data as a tool to address, through its reuse, global challenges such as poverty and multiple inequalities, violence and conflict, climate risks and natural disasters.

If several years ago the activities were limited to a single day, from 2023 we have a week to enjoy various conferences, seminars, workshops, etc. centred on this theme. Specifically, in 2025, Open Data Day activities will take place from 1 to 7 March.

Through its website you can see the various activities that will take place throughout the week all over the world. In this article we review some of those that you can follow from Spain, either because they take place in Spain or because they can be followed online.

Open Data Day 2025: Women Leading Open Data for Equality

Iniciativa Barcelona Open Data is organising a session on the afternoon of 6 March focusing on how open data can help address equality challenges. The event will bring together women experts in data technologies and open data, to share knowledge, experiences and best practices in both the publication and reuse of open data in this field.

The event will start at 17:30 with a welcome and introduction. This will be followed by two panel discussions and an interview:

• Round Table 1. Publishing institutions. Gender-sensitive data strategy to address the feminist agenda.
• DIALOGUE Data lab. Building feminist Tech Data practice.
• Round Table 2. Re-users. Projects based on the use of open data to address the feminist agenda.

The day will end at 19:40 with a cocktail and the opportunity for attendees to discuss the topics discussed and expand their network through networking.

How can you follow the event? This is an in-person event, which will be held at Ca l'Alier, Carrer de Pere IV, 362 (Barcelona).

Registration

Open access scientific and scholarly publishing as a tool to face the 21st century polycrisis: the key role of publishers

Organised by a private individual, Professor Damián Molgaray, this conference looks at the key role of editors in open access scientific and scholarly publishing. The idea is for participants to reflect on how open knowledge is positioned as a fundamental tool to face the challenges of the 21st century polycrisis, with a focus on Latin America.

The event will take place on 4 March at 11:00 in Argentina (15:00 in mainland Spain).

How can you follow the event? This is an online event through Google Meet.

Registration

WhoFundsThem

The organisation mySociety will show the results of its latest project. Over the last few months, a team of volunteers has collected data on the financial interests of the 650 MPs in the UK House of Commons, using sources such as the official Register of Interests, Companies House, MPs' attendance at debates etc. This data, checked and verified with MPs themselves through a 'right of reply' system, has been transformed into an easily accessible format, so that anyone can easily understand it, and will be published on the parliamentary tracking website TheyWorkForYou.

At this event, the project will be presented and the conclusions will be discussed. It takes place on Tuesday 4 at 14:00 London time (15:00 in Spain peninsular).

How can you follow the event? The session can be followed online, but registration is required. The event will be in English.

Registration

Science on the 7th: A conversation on Open Data & Air Quality

El viernes 7 a las 9:00 EST – (15:00 en España peninsular) se podrá seguir online una conferencia sobre datos abiertos y calidad del aire. La sesión reunirá a diversos expertos para debatir los temas de actualidad en materia de calidad del aire y salud mundial, y se examinará la contaminación atmosférica procedente de fuentes clave, como las partículas, el ozono y la contaminación relacionada con el tráfico.

Esta iniciativa está organizada por Health Effects Institute, una corporación sin ánimo de lucro que proporciona datos científicos sobre los efectos de la contaminación atmosférica en la salud.

A conference on open data and air quality will be available online on Friday 7 at 9:00 EST (15:00 in mainland Spain). The session will bring together a range of experts to discuss topical issues in air quality and global health, and will examine air pollution from key sources such as particulate matter, ozone and traffic-related pollution.

This initiative is organised by Health Effects Institute, a non-profit corporation that provides scientific data on the health effects of air pollution.

How can you follow the event? The conference, which will be in English, can be viewed on YouTube. No registration is required.

Watch the event online

Deadline open for new event proposals

The above events are just a few examples of the activities that are part of this global celebration, but, as mentioned above, you can see all the actions on the initiative's website.

In addition, the deadline for registering new events is still open. If you have a proposal, you can register it via this link.

From datos.gob.es we invite you to join this week of celebration, which serves to vindicate the power of open data to generate positive changes in our society. Don't miss it!

The EU Open Data Days 2025 is an essential event for all those interested in the world of open data and innovation in Europe and the world. This meeting, to be held on 19-20 March 2025, will bring together experts, practitioners, developers, researchers and policy makers to share knowledge, explore new opportunities and address the challenges facing the open data community.

The event, organised by the European Commission through data.europa.eu, aims to promote the re-use of open data. Participants will have the opportunity to learn about the latest trends in the use of open data, discover new tools and discuss the policies and regulations that are shaping the digital landscape in Europe.

Where and when does it take place?

El evento se celebrará en el Centro Europeo de Convenciones de Luxemburgo, aunque también se podrá seguir online, con el siguiente horario:

• Wednesday 19 March 2025, from 13:30 to 18:30.
• Thursday 20 March 2025, from 9:00 to 15:30.

What issues will be addressed?

The agenda of the event is already available, where we find different themes, such as, for example:

• Success stories and best practices: the event will be attended by professionals working at the frontline of European data policy to share their experience. Among other issues, these experts will provide practical guidance on how to inventory and open up a country's public sector data, address the work involved in compiling high-value datasets or analyse perspectives on data reuse in business models. Good practices for quality metadata or improved data governance and interoperability will also be explained.
• Focus on the use of artificial intelligence (AI): open data offers an invaluable source for the development and advancement of AI. In addition, AI can optimise the location, management and use of this data, offering tools to help streamline processes and extract greater insight. In this regard, the event will address the potential of AI to transform open government data ecosystems, fostering innovation, improving governance and enhancing citizen participation. The managers of Norway's national data portal will tell how they use an AI-based search engine to improve data localisation. In addition, the advances in linguistic data spaces and their use in language modelling will be explained, and how to creatively combine open data for social impact will be explored.
• Learning about data visualisation: event attendees will be able to explore how data visualisation is transforming communication, policy making and citizen engagement. Through various cases (such as the family tree of 3,000 European royals or UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage relationships) it will show how iterative design processes can uncover hidden patterns in complex networks, providing insights into storytelling and data communication. It will also address how design elements such as colour, scale and focus influence the perception of data.
• Examples and use cases: multiple examples of concrete projects based on the reuse of data will be shown, in fields such as energy, urban development or the environment. Among the experiences that will be shared is a Spanish company, Tangible Data, which will tell how physical data sculptures turn complex datasets into accessible and engaging experiences.

These are just some of the topics to be addressed, but there will also be discussions on open science, the role of open data in transparency and accountability, etc.

Why are EU Open Data Days so important?

Access to open data has proven to be a powerful tool for improving decision-making, driving innovation and research, and improving the efficiency of organisations. At a time when digitisation is advancing rapidly, the importance of sharing and reusing data is becoming increasingly crucial to address global challenges such as climate change, public health or social justice.

The EU Open Data Days 2025 are an opportunity to explore how open data can be harnessed to build a more connected, innovative and participatory Europe.

In addition, for those who choose to attend in person, the event will also be an opportunity to establish contacts with other professionals and organisations in the sector, creating new collaborations that can lead to innovative projects.

How can I attend?

To attend in person, it is necessary to register through this link. However, registration is not required to attend the event online.

If you have any queries, an e-mail address has been set up to answer any questions you may have about the event: EU-Open-Data-Days@ec.europa.eu.

More information on the event website.

Researchers and students from various centers have also reported advances resulting from working with data:The last days of the year are always a good time to look back and assess the progress made. If a few weeks ago we took stock of what happened in the Aporta initiative, now it is time to compile the news related to data sharing, open data and the technologies linked to them.

Six months ago, we already made a first collection of milestones in the sector. On this occasion, we will summarise some of the innovations, improvements and achievements of the last half of the year.

Regulating and driving artificial intelligence

La inteligencia artificial (IA) continúa siendo uno de los campos donde cada día se aprecian nuevos avances. Se trata de un sector cuyo auge es relativamente nuevo y que necesita regulación. Por ello, la Unión Europea publicó el pasado julio el Reglamento de inteligencia artificial, una norma que marcará el entorno regulatorio europeo y global. Alineada con Europa, España ya presentó unos meses antes su nueva Estrategia de inteligencia artificial 2024, con el fin de establecer un marco para acelerar el desarrollo y expansión de la IA en España.

Artificial intelligence (AI) continues to be one of the fields where new advances are being made every day. This is a relatively new and booming sector in need of regulation. Therefore, last July, the European Union published the Artificial Intelligence Regulation, a standard that will shape the European and global regulatory environment. Aligned with Europe, Spain had already presented its new Artificial Intelligence Strategy 2024 a few months earlier, with the aim of establishing a framework to accelerate the development and expansion of AI in Spain.

On the other hand, in October, Spain took over the co-presidency of the Open Government Partnership. Its roadmap includes promoting innovative ideas, taking advantage of the opportunities offered by open data and artificial intelligence. As part of the position, Spain will host the next OGP World Summit in Vitoria.

Innovative new data-driven tools

Data drives a host of disruptive technological tools that can generate benefits for all citizens. Some of those launched by public bodies in recent months include:

• The Ministry of Transport and Sustainable Mobility has started to use Big Data technology to analyse road traffic and improve investments and road safety.
• The Principality of Asturias announces a plan to use Artificial Intelligence to end traffic jams during the summer, through the development of a digital twin.
• The Government of Aragon presented a new tourism intelligence system, which uses Big Data and AI to improve decision-making in the sector.
• The Region of Murcia has launched “Murcia Business Insight”, a business intelligence application that allows dynamic analysis of data on the region's companies: turnover, employment, location, sector of activity, etc.
• The Granada City Council has used Artificial Intelligence to improve sewerage. The aim is to achieve "more efficient" maintenance planning and execution, with on-site data.
• The Segovia City Council and Visa have signed a collaboration agreement to develop an online tool with real, aggregated and anonymous data on the spending patterns of foreign Visa cardholders in the capital. This initiative will provide relevant information to help tailor strategies to promote international tourism.

Researchers and students from various centers have also reported advances resulting from working with data:

• Researchers from the Center for Genomic Regulation (CRG) in Barcelona, the University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), the Donostia International Physics Center (DIPC) and the Fundación Biofísica Bizkaia have trained an algorithm to detect tissue alterations in the early stages and improve cancer diagnosis.
• Researchers from the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) and KIDO Dynamics have launched a project to extract metadata from mobile antennas to understand the flow of people in natural landscapes. The objective is to identify and monitor the impact of tourism.
• A student at the University of Valladolid (UVa) has designed a project to improve the management and analysis of forest ecosystems in Spain at the local level, by converting municipal boundaries into a linked open data format. The results are available for re-use.

Advances in data spaces

The Ministry for Digital Transformation and the Civil Service and, specifically, the Secretariat of State for Digitalisation and Artificial Intelligence continues to make progress in the implementation of data spaces, through various actions:

• A Plan for the Promotion of Sectoral Data Spaces has been presented to promote secure data sharing.
• The development of Data Spaces for Intelligent Urban Infrastructures (EDINT) has been launched. This project, which will be carried out through the Spanish Federation of Municipalities and Provinces (FEMP), contemplates the creation of a multi-sectoral data space that will bring together all the information collected by local entities.
• In the field of digitalisation, aid has been launched for the digital transformation of strategic productive sectors through the development of technological products and services for data spaces.

Functionalities that bring data closer to reusers

The open data platforms of the various agencies have also introduced new developments, as new datasets, functionalities, strategies or reports:

• The Ministry for Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge has launched a new application for viewing the National Air Quality Index (AQI) in real time. It includes health recommendations for the general population and the sensitive population.
• The Andalusian Government has published a "Guide for the design of Public Policy Pilot Studies". It proposes a methodology for designing pilot studies and a system for collecting evidence for decision-making.
• The Government of Catalonia has initiated steps to implement a new data governance model that will improve relations with citizens and companies.
• The Madrid City Council is implementing a new 3D cartography and thermal map. In the Blog IDEE (Spatial Data Infrastructure of Spain) they explain how this 3D model of the capital was created using various data capture technologies.
• The Canary Islands Statistics Institute (ISTAC) has published 6,527 thematic maps with labor indicators on the Canary Islands in its open data catalog.
• Open Data Initiative and the Democratic Union of Pensioners and Retirees of Spain, with support from the Ministry of Social Rights, Consumption and Agenda 2030, presented the first Data website of the Data Observatory x Seniors. Its aim is to facilitate the analysis of healthy ageing in Spain and strategic decision-making. The Barcelona Initiative also launched a challenge to identify 50 datasets related to healthy ageing, a project supported by the Barcelona Provincial Council.
• The Centre for Technological Development and Innovation (CDTI) has presented a dashboard in beta phase with open data in exploitable format.

In addition, work continues to promote the opening up of data from various institutions:

• Asedie and the King Juan Carlos University (Madrid) have launched the Open Data Reuse Observatory to promote the reuse of open data. It already has the commitment of the Madrid City Council and they are looking for more institutions to join their Manifesto.
• The Cabildo of Tenerife and the University of La Laguna have developed a Sustainable Mobility Strategy in the Macizo de Anaga Biosphere Reserve. The aim is to obtain real-time data in order to take measures adapted to demand.

Data competitions and events to encourage the use of open data

Summer was the time chosen by various public bodies to launch competitions for products and/or services based on open data. This is the case of:

• The Community of Madrid held DATAMAD 2024 at the Universidad Rey Juan Carlos de Madrid. The event included a workshop on how to reuse open data and a datathon.
• More than 200 students registered for the I Malackathon, organised by the University of Malaga, a competition that awarded projects that used open data to propose solutions for water resource management.
• The Junta de Castilla y León held the VIII Open Data Competition, whose winners were announced in November.
• The II UniversiData Datathon was also launched. 16 finalists have been selected. The winners will be announced on 13 February 2025.
• The Cabildo of Tenerife also organised its I Open Data Competition: Ideas for reuse. They are currently evaluating the applications received. They will later launch their 2nd Open Data Competition: APP development.
• The Government of Euskadi held its V Open Data Competition. The finalists in both the Applications and Ideas categories are now known.

Also in these months there have been multiple events, which can be seen online, such as:

• The III GeoEuskadi Congress and XVI Iberian Conference on Spatial Data Infrastructures (JIIDE).
• DATAforum Justice 2024.

Other examples of events that were held but are not available online are the III Congress & XIV Conference of R Users, the Novagob 2024 Public Innovation Congress, DATAGRI 2024 or the Data Governance for Local Entities Conference, among others.

These are just a few examples of the activity carried out during the last six months in the Spanish data ecosystem. We encourage you to share other experiences you know of in the comments or via our email address dinamizacion@datos.gob.es.​

On 28 November, the 2nd Forum for the Government and the Autonomous Communities to meet around data was held in Seville, organised by the State Secretariat for Digitalisation and Artificial Intelligence (SEDIA), in collaboration with the Andalusian Institute of Statistics and Cartography (IECA) and the Digital Agency of Andalusia (ADA). Almost all the autonomous communities participated, reflecting their commitment to data as a strategic driver of digital transformation.

The programme addressed key issues, such as the lessons learned in the implementation of data governance, the impact of its ethical use, and the potential of public-private collaboration in the deployment of sectoral data spaces, with emphasis on the Plan for the Promotion of Sectoral Data Spaces recently presented by the Ministry for Digital Transformation on 21 November.

Here is a summary of the key points of the meeting.

A space to exchange experiences, success stories and lessons learned.

The event brought together more than 70 experts from units of the General State Administration and 15 autonomous communities and the Autonomous City of Melilla, which are active in the use and management of data in their organisations. El objetivo era poner en común las experiencias en este ámbito y compartir los casos de éxito y los aprendizajes derivados de la implantación de iniciativas de gobierno del dato, promoviendo la colaboración entre administraciones para mejorar la competitividad y la eficiencia digital futura.

The forum was opened by the Regional Minister of Presidency, Interior, Social Dialogue and Administrative Simplification of the Andalusian Regional Government, and the Director General of Data of the Ministry for Digital Transformation and Public Administration, and was closed by the Director of IECA.

The day was structured around three round tables with 15 speakers. The attendees were also able to answer various questions related to the subject matter of each of these roundtables, in order to ascertain their perceptions in this regard. This format facilitated a fruitful and enriching exchange of ideas that allowed attendees to explore key issues.

• Table 1 "Experiences of implementing Data Governance: Lessons learnt. The first round table focused on different experiences in data governance. The speakers shared the challenges faced and the practical lessons learned, with the aim of serving as an example and point of reflection for similar initiatives that participants might undertake in the future. The importance of support at the highest level and the use of existing frameworks, such as UNE specifications or the DAMA methodology, was stressed. The need to focus not only on technology, but also to respond to cultural and organisational changes, and to establish processes and structures that will last over time was also emphasised.
• Table 2 "Data with purpose: Success stories of ethical and reliable use of data". The second roundtable focused on presenting concrete results obtained through the ethical and reliable use of data. The speakers shared their backgrounds and achievements, illustrating the wide possibilities that a well governed and managed data can generate in terms of citizen service and improvement of public administration. The work to be done on the quantity and quality of datawas highlighted, without losing focus on the future goal, which is to solve today's problems through sustainable projects.
• Table 3 "Data spaces from the perspective of public-private collaboration and the enhancement of public data". The third and final roundtable explored the paradigm of data spaces. Special emphasis was placed on public-private partnerships and how to enhance the value of public data. A highlight of this session was the presentation by the Directorate General for Data of the Plan for the Promotion of Sectoral Data Spaces. This plan seeks to deploy data spaces across the different productive sectors, underlining the fundamental value that quality public data can have in their effective implementation.

Overall, these roundtables not only provided a platform for the exchange of knowledge and experiences, but also laid the groundwork for future collaborations and innovative projects in the field of data management and governance in the Spanish public administration.

Attendees were very appreciative of the wide variety of roles involved, giving different views on something as complex as data governance, which includes many different approaches and competencies. The general perception is that shared experiences help others to try to circumvent the barriers that others have previously had to overcome and to reach the final goal faster, which is to provide better service and implement better public policies for citizens through a data-driven government.

Conclusions of the Forum

Some of the conclusions reached were:

• It is necessary to focus on data quality. Without quality data, well governed and managed, it will be difficult to achieve valuable solutions, for example in the field of artificial intelligence.
• Invest in data governance by ensuring sustainable projects. Data governance is not just about technology, but about business and services. It requires considerable effort on the part of organisations to create data that reflect reality and are truly useful for decision-making, breaking down silos and implementing citizen-oriented services. To this end, it is recommended to build on existing conceptual frameworks, oriented towards processes and organisational structures that are sustainable over time.
• The Autonomous Communities can help the deployment of the Plan for the Promotion of Data Spaces from a public-private partnership perspective and benefit from its actions.
• We need to influence the data culture in organisations. The objective is to incorporate data governance into the different business areas, supporting organisational objectives, ensuring that the data culture permeates the organisation and is perceived as something transversal that contributes value to the different sectors as well as to the administration and society as a whole.

Upcoming performances

After the success of the first edition, held in Navarre in 2023, the forum has been consolidated as a reference space for the exchange of experiences and good practices in data management, essential for those seeking to lead the future of data management in public administrations.

Theday concluded with a proposal for continuity, highlighting the need to create a community of knowledge exchange between editions. Furthermore, the Principality of Asturias has applied to host the third edition of the forum, to be held in 2025, which demonstrates the growing interest in further consolidating this space for inter-institutional cooperation on data.

ASEDIE, Asociación Multisectorial de la Información, will hold its usual International Conference on the Reuse of Public Sector Information on December 12. This will be its 16th edition and the central theme is "ASEDIE, 25 years driving the data economy". The aim of the meeting is to address the progress made during this time, provide a snapshot of the current situation and discuss barriers and possible solutions for the re-use of public sector information.

When and where does it take place?

The event will be held in a face-to-face format on 12 December 2024 at the National Statistics Institute (INE), located at Avenida de Manoteras 52, in Madrid. Seating is limited, the reception will start at 9:00 and the event will end at 13:40. To attend the event you must register at this link..

What is the programme?

The focus of this edition will be on the reuse of public sector information and on commemorating the 25 years that the ASEDIE Association has been promoting the data economy in Spain.

The session will open at 9:30 a.m. with the inauguration of the event by the President of ASEDIE, Ignacio Jiménez and the President of INE, Elena Manzanera, to welcome the attendees.
The event will feature three round tables:

• The first round table will take place from 9:45 to 10:30 and will deal with 'Artificial Intelligence and data protection coexisting with reuse'. It will feature the participation of Miguel Valle del Olmo, Digital Transformation Advisor of the Permanent Representation of Spain to the European Union and Leonardo Cervera Navas, Secretary General of European Data Protection Supervisor; and will be moderated by Valentín Arce, Vice-president of ASEDIE.

At the end of this thematic block, the ASEDIE 2024 Award will be presented to recognize those individuals, companies or institutions that stand out for the best work or the greatest contribution to innovation and development of the Infomediary sector in the current year.

After a coffee break, the second round table will start at 11:30:

• This second roundtable under the title "Leadership in open data" will bring together leading figures from the public sector to highlight their coordinating role. The event will be attended by Carmen Cabanilla, Director General of Public Governance of the Secretary of State for Public Function; Ruth del Campo, General Data Director and Francisco Javier García Vieira, Director of RedIRIS and Digital Public Services of Red.es.. All this, moderated by Manuel Suarez, Member of the Board of Directors of ASEDIE.
• The third round table on "The reality of open data: quality, governance and access" will start at 12:30 and will be moderated by Carmen de Pablo, Professor at the Universidad Rey Juan Carlos. This round table will be attended by Fernando Serrano, Advisor to the General Directorate of Cadastre; Joseba Asiain, Director General of the Presidency, Open Government and Relations with the Parliament of the Government of Navarre and Ángela Perez, Director General of Transparency and Quality of the Madrid City Council.

Finally, the event will end with a brief closing speech by Ignacio Jiménez, president of ASEDIE.

You can consult the complete program here.

How can I register?

Attendance is in person with limited seating and registrations can be made on the ASEDIE website.

As part of the European Cybersecurity Awareness Month, the European data portal, data.europa.eu, has organized a webinar focused on the protection of open data.This event comes at a critical time when organisations, especially in the public sector, face the challenge of balancing data transparency and accessibility with the need to protect against cyber threats.

The online seminar was attended by experts in the field of cybersecurity and data protection, both from the private and public sector.

The expert panel addressed the importance of open data for government transparency and innovation, as well as emerging risks related to data breaches, privacy issues and other cybersecurity threats. Data providers, particularly in the public sector, must manage this paradox of making data accessible while ensuring its protection against malicious use.

During the event, a number of malicious tactics used by some actors to compromise the security of open data were identified. These tactics can occur both before and after publication. Knowing about them is the first step in preventing and counteracting them.

Pre-publication threats

Before data is made publicly available, it may be subject to the following threats:

• Supply chain attacks: attackers can sneak malicious code into open data projects, such as commonly used libraries (Pandas, Numpy or visualisation modules), by exploiting the trust placed in these resources. This technique allows attackers to compromise larger systems and collect sensitive information in a gradual and difficult to detect manner.

• Manipulation of information: data may be deliberately altered to present a false or misleading picture. This may include altering numerical values, distorting trends or creating false narratives. These actions undermine the credibility of open data sources and can have significant consequences, especially in contexts where data is used to make important decisions.
• Envenenamiento de datos (data poisoning): attackers can inject misleading or incorrect data into datasets, especially those used for training AI models. This can result in models that produce inaccurate or biased results, leading to operational failures or poor business decisions.

Post-publication threats

Once data has been published, it remains vulnerable to a variety of attacks:

• Compromise data integrity: attackers can modify published data, altering files, databases or even data transmission. These actions can lead to erroneous conclusions and decisions based on false information.

• Re-identification and breach of privacy: data sets, even if anonymised, can be combined with other sources of information to reveal the identity of individuals. This practice, known as 're-identification', allows attackers to reconstruct detailed profiles of individuals from seemingly anonymous data. This represents a serious violation of privacy and may expose individuals to risks such as fraud or discrimination.
• Sensitive data leakage: open data initiatives may accidentally expose sensitive information such as medical records, personally identifiable information (emails, names, locations) or employment data. This information can be sold on illicit markets such as the dark web, or used to commit identity fraud or discrimination.

Following on from these threats, the webinar presented a case study on how cyber disinformation exploited open data during the energy and political crisis associated with the Ukraine war in 2022. Attackers manipulated data, generated false content with artificial intelligence and amplified misinformation on social media to create confusion and destabilise markets.

Figure 1. Slide from the webinar presentation "Safeguarding open data: cybersecurity essentials and skills for data providers".

Data protection and data governance strategies

In this context, the implementation of a robust governance structure emerges as a fundamental element for the protection of open data. This framework should incorporate rigorous quality management to ensure accuracy and consistency of data, together with effective updating and correction procedures. Security controls should be comprehensive, including:

• Technical protection measures.
• Integrity check procedures.
• Access and modification monitoring systems.

Risk assessment and risk management requires a systematic approach starting with a thorough identification of sensitive and critical data. This involves not only the cataloguing of critical information, but also a detailed assessment of its sensitivity and strategic value. A crucial aspect is the identification and exclusion of personal data that could allow the identification of individuals, implementing robust anonymisation techniques where necessary.

For effective protection, organisations must conduct comprehensive risk analyses to identify potential vulnerabilities in their data management systems and processes. These analyses should lead to the implementation of robust security controls tailored to the specific needs of each dataset. In this regard, the implementation of data sharing agreements establishes clear and specific terms for the exchange of information with other organisations, ensuring that all parties understand their data protection responsibilities.

Experts stressed that data governance must be structured through well-defined policies and procedures that ensure effective and secure information management. This includes the establishment of clear roles and responsibilities, transparent decision-making processes and monitoring and control mechanisms. Mitigation procedures must be equally robust, including well-defined response protocols, effective preventive measures and continuous updating of protection strategies.

In addition, it is essential to maintain a proactive approach to security management. A strategy that anticipates potential threats and adapts protection measures as the risk landscape evolves. Ongoing staff training and regular updating of policies and procedures are key elements in maintaining the effectiveness of these protection strategies. All this must be done while maintaining a balance between the need for protection and the fundamental purpose of open data: its accessibility and usefulness to the public.

Legal aspects and compliance

In addition, the webinar explained the legal and regulatory framework surrounding open data. A crucial point was the distinction between anonymization and pseudo-anonymization in the context of the GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation).

On the one hand, anonymised data are not considered personal data under the GDPR, because it is impossible to identify individuals. However, pseudo-anonymisation retains the possibility of re-identification if combined with additional information. This distinction is crucial for organisations handling open data, as it determines which data can be freely published and which require additional protections.

To illustrate the risks of inadequate anonymisation, the webinar presented the Netflix case in 2006, when the company published a supposedly anonymised dataset to improve its recommendation algorithm. However, researchers were able to "re-identify" specific users by combining this data with publicly available information on IMDb. This case demonstrates how the combination of different datasets can compromise privacy even when anonymisation measures have been taken.

In general terms, the role of the Data Governance Act in providing a horizontal governance framework for data spaces was highlighted, establishing the need to share information in a controlled manner and in accordance with applicable policies and laws. The Data Governance Regulation is particularly relevant to ensure that data protection, cybersecurity and intellectual property rights are respected in the context of open data.

The role of AI and cybersecurity in data security

The conclusions of the webinar focused on several key issues for the future of open data. A key element was the discussion on the role of artificial intelligence and its impact on data security. It highlighted how AI can act as a cyber threat multiplier, facilitating the creation of misinformation and the misuse of open data.

On the other hand, the importance of implementing Privacy Enhancing Technologies (PETs ) as fundamental tools to protect data was emphasized. These include anonymisation and pseudo-anonymisation techniques, data masking, privacy-preserving computing and various encryption mechanisms. However, it was stressed that it is not enough to implement these technologies in isolation, but that they require a comprehensive engineering approach that considers their correct implementation, configuration and maintenance.

The importance of training

The webinar also emphasised the critical importance of developing specific cybersecurity skills. ENISA's cyber skills framework, presented during the session, identifies twelve key professional profiles, including the Cybersecurity Policy and Legal Compliance Officer, the Cybersecurity Implementer and the Cybersecurity Risk Manager. These profiles are essential to address today's challenges in open data protection.

Figure 2. Slide presentation of the webinar " Safeguarding open data: cybersecurity essentials and skills for data providers".

In summary, a key recommendation that emerged from the webinar was the need for organisations to take a more proactive approach to open data management. This includes the implementation of regular impact assessments, the development of specific technical competencies and the continuous updating of security protocols. The importance of maintaining transparency and public confidence while implementing these security measures was also emphasised.

From October 28 to November 24, registration will be open for submitting proposals to the challenge organized by the Diputación de Bizkaia. The goal of the competition is to identify initiatives that combine the reuse of available data from the Open Data Bizkaia portal with the use of artificial intelligence. The complete guidelines are available at this link, but in this post, we will cover everything you need to know about this contest, which offers cash prizes for the five best projects.

Participants must use at least one dataset from the Diputación Foral de Bizkaia or from the municipalities in the territory, which can be found in the catalog, to address one of the five proposed use cases:

1. Promotional content about tourist attractions in Bizkaia: Written promotional content, such as generated images, flyers, etc., using datasets like:

   • Beaches of Bizkaia by municipality
   • Cultural agenda – BizkaiKOA
   • Cultural agenda of Bizkaia
   • Bizkaibus
   • Trails
   • Recreation areas
   • Hotels in Euskadi – Open Data Euskadi
   • Temperature predictions in Bizkaia – Weather API data

2. Boosting tourism through sentiment analysis: Text files with recommendations for improving tourist resources, such as Excel and PowerPoint reports, using datasets like:

   • Beaches of Bizkaia by municipality
   • Cultural agenda – BizkaiKOA
   • Cultural agenda of Bizkaia
   • Bizkaibus
   • Trails
   • Recreation areas
   • Hotels in Euskadi – Open Data Euskadi
   • Google reviews API – this resource is paid with a possible free tier

3. Personalized tourism guides: Chatbot or document with personalized recommendations using datasets like:

   • Tide table 2024
   • Beaches of Bizkaia by municipality
   • Cultural agenda – BizkaiKOA
   • Cultural agenda of Bizkaia
   • Bizkaibus
   • Trails
   • Hotels in Euskadi – Open Data Euskadi
   • Temperature predictions in Bizkaia – Weather API data, resource with a free tier

4. Personalized cultural event recommendations: Chatbot or document with personalized recommendations using datasets like:

   • Cultural agenda – BizkaiKOA
   • Cultural agenda of Bizkaia

5. Waste management optimization: Excel, PowerPoint, and Word reports containing recommendations and strategies using datasets like:

   • Urban waste
   • Containers by municipality

How to participate?

Participants can register individually or in teams via this form available on the website. The registration period is from October 28 to November 24, 2024. Once registration closes, teams must submit their solutions on Sharepoint. A jury will pre-select five finalists, who will have the opportunity to present their project at the final event on December 12, where the prizes will be awarded. The organization recommends attending in person, but online attendance will also be allowed if necessary.

The competition is open to anyone over 16 years old with a valid ID or passport, who is not affiliated with the organizing entities. Additionally, multiple proposals can be submitted.

What are the prizes?

The jury members will select five winning projects based on the following evaluation criteria:

• Suitability of the proposed solution to the selected challenge.
• Creativity and innovation.
• Quality and coherence of the solution.
• Suitability of the Open Data Bizkaia datasets used.

The winning candidates will receive a cash prize, as well as the commitment to open the datasets associated with the project, to the extent possible.

• First prize: €2,000.
• Second prize: €1,000.
• Three prizes for the remaining finalists of €500 each.

One of the objectives of this challenge, as explained by the Diputación Foral de Bizkaia, is to understand whether the current dataset offerings meet demand. Therefore, if any participant requires a dataset from Bizkaia or its municipalities that is not available, they can propose that the institution make it publicly available, as long as the information falls within the competencies of the Diputación Foral de Bizkaia or the municipalities.

This is a unique event that will not only allow you to showcase your skills in artificial intelligence and open data but also contribute to the development and improvement of Bizkaia. Don’t miss the chance to be part of this exciting challenge. Sign up and start creating innovative solutions!

Spatial and geospatial data are essential for decision-making, spatial planning and resource management. The ability to visualise and analyse data in a spatial context offers valuable tools to address complex challenges in areas ranging from defence to sustainability. Participating in events that address these issues not only broadens our knowledge, but also fosters collaboration and innovation in the sector.

In this post, we present two upcoming events dealing with geospatial data and its most innovative uses. Don't miss them!

II Conference on Geospatial Intelligence: Territory and Defence

The Instituto Geográfico de Aragón (IGEAR) in collaboration with the Academia General Militar, the Centro Universitario de la Defensa and Telespazio Ibérica, has organized the second edition of the Jornada de Inteligencia Geoespacial: Territory and Defence, an event that will bring together professionals from the sector to explore how geospatial data can optimize strategies in the field of security and territorial management.

During the next 21 November, the crown room of the Pignatelli Building in Zaragoza will bring together speakers and attendees to discuss the impact of geospatial intelligence in Spain. The event will be open to a maximum of 100 attendees by invitation.

Geospatial intelligence, or GEOINT for short, focuses on understanding the dynamics occurring within a given geographic space.To achieve this, GEOINT relies on detailed analysis of imagery, databases and other relevant information, based on the idea that, although the circumstances surrounding each situation may vary, there is one common characteristic: all action takes place at specific geographic coordinates.

GEOINT is a very broad field that can be applied both in the military field, to execute movements by analyzing the terrain, and in the scientific field , to study environments, or even in the business field, to help adapt census, historical, meteorological, agricultural and geological information to commercial uses.

The II Geospatial Intelligence Conference will present case studies and technological advances and will promote discussions on the future of geospatial intelligence in defense contexts. For more details, you can visit the event's website.

• When? On 21 November 2024 at 8:00h.
• Wheree? Crown Hall of the Pignatelli Building. Paseo María Agustín, 36. Zaragoza.
• How to access? Through this link.

XV Edition of the Iberian Conference on Spatial Data Infrastructures (JIIDE) and III geoEuskadi

This year, the Board of Directors of the Geographic Information Infrastructure of Spain (CODIIGE) is jointly organizing the Iberian Conference on Spatial Data Infrastructures (JIIDE ) and the III geoEuskadi Kongresua Congress. Both events aim to enhance and promote activities related to geographic information in various sectors, covering both the publication and standardized accessibility of geographic data as well as its production, processing and exploitation.

On the one hand, in the JIIDE collaborate the Direção-Geral do Território de Portugal, the Instituto Geográfico Nacional de España, through the Centro Nacional de Información Geográfica, and the Govern d'Andorra.

The geoEuskadi Kongresua is organised by the Directorate of Territorial Planning and Urban Agenda of the Basque Government. This year, all these entities will come together to carry out a single event under the slogan “The value of geospatial data”.
The conference will focus on new technological trends related to data accessibility and reuse, as well as current techniques for Earth observation and representation.

Digital geospatial data is a key driver for economic growth, competitiveness, innovation, job creation and social progress. Therefore, III geoEuskadi and the XV edition JIIDE 2024 will emphasize the importance of technologies, such as big data and artificial intelligence, to generate ideas that improve business decision making and the creation of systems that perform tasks that traditionally require human intervention.

In addition, collaboration for the co-production and harmonization of data between different administrations and organizations will be highlighted, something that continues to be essential to generate valuable geospatial data that can become true references. This is a time of renewal, driven by the revision of the INSPIRE Directive, the update of the regulations on environmental spatial data and the new regulations on open data and data governance that favor a modernization in the publication and reuse of these data.

During the event, examples of reuse of high-value datasets will also be presented, both through OGC APIs and through download services and interoperable formats.

The combination of these events will represent a privileged space to reflect on geographic information and will be a showcase for the most innovative projects in the Iberian Peninsula. In addition, there will be technical workshops to share specific knowledge and round tables to promote debate. To learn more about this event, visit the JIIDE portal..

• When? From 13 to 15 November.
• Where? Europa Conference Centre (Vitoria-Gasteiz).
• How do I register? Through this link.

Don't miss the opportunity to participate in these events that promote the advancement of the use of spatial and geospatial data. We encourage you to join this conference to learn, collaborate and contribute to the development of this constantly evolving sector.