Sector público

Last October, Spain hosted the OGP 2025 Global Summit, an international benchmark event on open government. More than 2,000 representatives of governments, civil society organisations and public policy experts from around the world met in Vitoria-Gasteiz to discuss the importance of maintaining open, participatory and transparent governments as pillars of society.

The location chosen for this meeting was no coincidence: Spain has been building an open government model for more than a decade  that has positioned it as an international benchmark. In this article we are going to review some of the projects that have been launched in our country to transform its public administration and bring it closer to citizens.

The strategic framework: action plans and international commitments

Open government is a culture of governance that promotes the principles of transparency, integrity, accountability, and stakeholder participation in support of democracy and inclusive growth.

Spain's commitment to open government has a consolidated track record. Since Spain joined the Open Government Partnership in 2011, the country has developed five consecutive action plans that have been broadening and deepening government openness initiatives. Each plan has been an advance over the previous one, incorporating new commitments and responding to the emerging challenges of the digital society.

The V Open Government Plan (2024-2028) represents the evolution of this strategy. Its development process incorporated a co-creation methodology that involved multiple actors from civil society, public administrations at all levels and experts in the field. This participatory approach made it easier for the plan to respond to real needs and to have the support of all the sectors involved.

Justice 2030: the biggest transformation of the judicial system in decades

Under the slogan "The greatest transformation of Justice in decades", the Justice 2030 programme  is proposed as a roadmap to modernise the Spanish judicial system. Its objective is to build a more accessible, efficient, sustainable and people-centred justice system, through a co-governance model  that involves public administrations, legal operators and citizens.

The plan is structured around three strategic axes:

1. Accessibility and people-centred justice

This axis seeks to ensure that justice reaches all citizens, reducing territorial, social and digital gaps. Among the main measures are:

• Face-to-face and digital access and attention: promotion of more accessible judicial headquarters, both physically and technologically, with services adapted to vulnerable groups.

• Basic legal education: legal literacy initiatives for the general population, promoting understanding of the judicial system.

• Inclusive justice: mediation and restorative justice programmes, with special attention to victims and groups in vulnerable situations.

• New social realities: adaptation of the judicial system to contemporary challenges (digital violence, environmental crimes, digital rights, etc.).

2. Efficiency of the public justice service

The programme argues that technological and organisational transformation is key to a more agile and efficient justice. This second axis incorporates advances aimed at modern management and digitalization:

• Justice offices in the municipalities: creation of access points to justice in small towns, bringing judicial services closer to the territory.

• Procedural and organisational reform: updating the Criminal Procedure Law and the procedural framework to improve coordination between courts.

• Electronic judicial file: consolidation of the digital file and interoperable tools between institutions.

• Artificial intelligence and judicial data: responsible use of advanced technologies to improve file management and workload prediction.

3. Sustainable and territorially cohesive justice

The third axis seeks to ensure that judicial modernisation contributes to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and territorial cohesion.

The main lines are:

• Environmental and climate justice: promotion of legal mechanisms that favor environmental protection and the fight against climate change.

• Territorial cohesion: coordination with autonomous communities to guarantee equal access to justice throughout the country.

• Institutional collaboration: strengthening cooperation between public authorities, local entities and civil society.

The Transparency Portal: the heart of the right to know

If Justice 2030 represents the transformation of access to justice, the Transparency Portal is designed to guarantee the citizen's right to public information. This digital platform, operational since 2014, centralises information on administrative organisations and allows citizens to exercise their right of access to public information in a simple and direct way. Its main functions are:

• Proactive publication of information on government activities, budgets, contracts, grants, agreements and administrative decisions, without the need for citizens to request it.

• Information request system to access documentation that is not publicly available, with legally established deadlines for the administrative response.

• Participatory processes that allow citizens to actively participate in the design and evaluation of public policies.

• Transparency indicators that objectively measure compliance with the obligations of the different administrations, allowing comparisons and encouraging continuous improvement.

This portal is based on three fundamental rights:

1. Right to know: every citizen can access public information, either through direct consultation on the portal or by formally exercising their right of access when the information is not available.

2. Right to understand: information must be presented in a clear, understandable way and adapted to different audiences, avoiding unnecessary technicalities and facilitating interpretation.

3. Right to participate: citizens can intervene in the management of public affairs through the citizen participation mechanisms enabled on the platform.

The platform complies with Law 19/2013, of 9 December, on transparency, access to public information and good governance, a regulation that represented a paradigm shift, recognising access to information as a fundamental right of the citizen and not as a gracious concession of the administration.

Consensus for Open Government: National Open Government Strategy

Another project advocating for open government is the "Consensus for Open Administration." According to this reference document, it is not only a matter of opening data or creating transparency portals, but of radically transforming the way in which public policies are designed and implemented. This consensus replaces the traditional vertical model, where administrations decide unilaterally, with a permanent dialogue between administrations, legal operators and citizens. The document is structured in four strategic axes:

1. Administration Open to the capacities of the public sector

• Development of proactive, innovative and inclusive public employment.

• Responsible implementation of artificial intelligence systems.

• Creating secure and ethical shared data spaces.

2. Administration Open to evidence-informed public policies and participation:

• Development of interactive maps of public policies.

• Systematic evaluation based on data and evidence.

• Incorporation of the citizen voice in all phases of the public policy cycle.

3. Administration Open to citizens:

• Evolution of "My Citizen Folder" towards more personalized services.

• Implementation of digital tools such as SomosGob.

• Radical simplification of administrative procedures and procedures.

4. Administration Open to Transparency, Participation and Accountability:

• Complete renovation of the Transparency Portal.

• Improvement of the transparency mechanisms of the General State Administration.

• Strengthening accountability systems.

Figure 1: Consensus on open government a. Source: own elaboration

The Open Government Forum: a space for permanent dialogue

All these projects and commitments need an institutional space where they can be continuously discussed, evaluated and adjusted. That is precisely the function of the Open Government Forum,  which functions as a body for participation and dialogue made up of representatives of the central, regional and local administration. And it is made up of 32 members of civil society carefully selected to ensure diversity of perspectives.

This balanced composition ensures that all voices are heard in the design and implementation of open government policies. The Forum meets regularly to assess the progress of commitments, identify obstacles and propose new initiatives that respond to emerging challenges.

Its transparent and participatory operation, with public minutes and open consultation processes, makes it an international benchmark for good practices in collaborative governance. The Forum is not simply a consultative body, but a space of co-decision where consensus is built that is later translated into concrete public policies.

Hazlab: innovation laboratory for citizen participation

Promoted by the General Directorate of Public Governance of the Ministry for Digital Transformation and Public Function, HazLab is part of the Plan for the Improvement of Citizen Participation in Public Affairs, included in Commitment 3 of the IV Open Government Plan of Spain (2020-2024).

HazLab is a virtual space designed to promote collaboration between the Administration, citizens, academia, professionals and social groups. Its purpose is to promote a new way of building public policies based on innovation, dialogue and cooperation. Specifically, there are three areas of work:

• Virtual spaces for collaboration, which facilitate joint work between administrations, experts and citizens.

• Projects for the design and prototyping of public services, based on participatory and innovative methodologies.

• Resource Library, a repository with audiovisual materials, articles, reports and guides on open government, participation, integrity and transparency.

Registration in HazLab is free and allows you to participate in projects, events and communities of practice. In addition, the platform offers a user manual and a code of conduct to facilitate responsible participation.

In conclusion, the open government projects that Spain is promoting represent much more than isolated initiatives of administrative modernization or technological updates. They constitute a profound cultural change in the very conception of public service, where citizens cease to be mere passive recipients of services to become active co-creators of public policies.

The Provincial Council of Bizkaia has launched the Data Journalism Challenge, a competition aimed at rewarding creativity, rigour and talent in the use of open data. This initiative seeks to promote journalistic projects that use the public data available on the Open Data Bizkaia platform  to create informative content with a strong visual component. Whether through interactive graphics, maps, animated videos or in-depth reports, the goal is  to transform data into narratives that connect with citizens.

Who can participate?

The call is open to individuals over 18 years of age, both individually and in teams of up to four members. Each participant may submit proposals in one or more of the available categories.

It is an opportunity of special relevance for students, entrepreneurs, developers, design professionals or journalists with an interest in open data.

Three categories to boost the use of open data

The competition is divided into three categories, each with its own approach and evaluation criteria:

1. Dynamic data representation: Projects that present data in an interactive, clear, and visually appealing way.

2. Data storytelling through animated video: audiovisual narratives that explain phenomena or trends using public data.

3. Reporting + Data: journalistic articles that integrate data analysis with research and depth of information.

As we have previously mentioned, all projects must be based on the public data available on the Open Data Bizkaia platform, which offers information on multiple areas: economy, environment, mobility, health, culture, etc. It is a rich and accessible source for building relevant and well-grounded stories.

Up to 4,500 euros in prizes

For each category, the following prizes will be awarded:

• First place: 1,500 euros

• Second place: 750 euros

The prizes will be subject to the corresponding tax withholdings. Since the same person can submit proposals to several categories, and these will be evaluated independently, it is possible for a single participant to win more than one prize. Therefore, a single participant will be able to win up to 4,500 euros, if they win in all three categories.

What are the evaluation criteria?

The awards will be made through the competitive concurrence procedure. All the projects received in the period enabled for this will be evaluated by the jury, according to a series of specific criteria for each category:

1. Dynamic data representation:

• Communicative clarity (30%)

• Interactivity (25%)

• Design and usability (20%)

• Originality in representation (15%)

• Rigor and fidelity of data (10%)

2. Data storytelling in animation video

• Narrative and script (30%)

• Visual creativity and technical innovation (25%)

• Informational clarity (20%)

• Emotional and aesthetic impact (15%)

• Rigorous and honest use of data (10%)

3. Feature + Data

• Journalistic quality and analytical depth (30%)

• Narrative integration of data (25%)

• Originality in approach and format (20%)

• Design and user experience (15%)

• Transparency and traceability of sources (10%)

How are applications submitted?

The deadline for submitting projects began on November 3 and will be open until December 3, 2025 at 11:59 p.m. Applications may be submitted in a variety of ways:

• Electronically, through the electronic office of Bizkaia, using the procedure code 2899.

• In person, at the General Registry of the Laguntza Office (c/ Diputación, 7, Bilbao), at any other public registry or at the Post Office.

In the case of group projects, a single application signed by a representative must be submitted. This person will assume the dialogue with the organizing General Directorate, taking care of the procedures and the fulfillment of the corresponding obligations.

The documentation that must be submitted is:

• The project to be evaluated.

• The certificate of being up to date with tax obligations.

• The certificate of being up to date with Social Security obligations.

• The direct debit form, only in the event that the applicant objects to this Administration checking the bank details by its own means.

Contact Information

For queries or additional information, please contact the Provincial Council of Bizkaia. Specifically, with the Department of Public Administration and Institutional Relations, Technical Advisory Section c/ Gran Vía, 2 (48009) in the city of Bilbao. Doubts will also be answered by calling 944 068 000 and by email SAT@bizkaia.eus.

This competition represents an opportunity to explore the potential of data journalism and contribute to more transparent and accessible communication. The projects presented will be able to highlight the potential of open data to facilitate the understanding of issues of public interest, in a clear and simple way.

For more details, it is recommended to read the information 

On October 6, the V Open Government Plan was approved, an initiative that gives continuity to the commitment of public administrations to transparency, citizen participation and accountability. This new plan, which will be in force until 2029, includes 218 measures grouped into 10 commitments that affect the various levels of the Administration.

In this article we are going to review the key points of the Plan, focusing on those commitments related to data and access to public information.

A document resulting from collaboration

The process of preparing the V Open Government Plan has been developed in  a participatory and collaborative way, with the aim of collecting proposals from different social actors. To this end, a public consultation was opened in which citizens, civil society organizations and institutional representatives were able to contribute ideas and suggestions. A series of deliberative workshops were also held. In total, 620 contributions were received from civil society and more than 300 proposals from ministries, autonomous communities and cities, and representatives of local entities.

These contributions were analysed and integrated into the plan's commitments, which were subsequently validated by the Open Government Forum. The result is a document that reflects a shared vision on how to advance transparency, participation and accountability in the public administrations as a whole.

10 main lines of action with a prominent role for open data

As a result of this collaborative work, 10 lines of action have been established. The first nine commitments include initiatives from the General State Administration (AGE), while the tenth groups together the contributions of autonomous communities and local entities:

1. Participation and civic space.
2. Transparency and access to information.
3. Integrity and accountability.
4. Open administration.
5. Digital governance and artificial intelligence.
6. Fiscal openness: clear and open accounts.
7. Truthful information / information ecosystem.
8. Dissemination, training and promotion of open government.
9. Open Government Observatory.
10. Open state.

Figure 1. 10 lines of action of the V Open Government Plan. Source: Ministry of Inclusion, Social Security and Migration.

Data and public information are a key element in all of them. However, most of the measures related to this field are found within line of action 2, where there is a specific section on opening and reusing public information data. Among the measures envisaged, the following are contemplated:

• Data governance model: it is proposed to create a regulatory framework that facilitates the responsible and efficient use of public data in the AGE. It includes the regulation of collegiate bodies for the exchange of data, the application of European regulations and the creation of institutional spaces to design public policies based on data.
• Data strategy for a citizen-centred administration: it seeks to establish a strategic framework for the ethical and transparent use of data in the Administration.
• Publication of microdata from electoral surveys: the Electoral Law will be amended to include the obligation to publish anonymized microdata from electoral surveys. This improves the reliability of studies and facilitates open access to individual data for analysis.
• Support for local entities in the opening of data: a grant program has been launched to promote the opening of homogeneous and quality data in local entities through calls and/or collaboration agreements. In addition, its reuse will be promoted through awareness-raising actions, development of demonstrator solutions and inter-administrative collaboration to promote public innovation.
• Openness of data in the Administration of Justice: official data on justice will continue to be published on public portals, with the aim of making the Administration of Justice more transparent and accessible.
• Access and integration of high-value geospatial information: the aim is to facilitate the reuse of high-value spatial data in categories such as geospatial, environment and mobility. The measure includes the development of digital maps, topographic bases and an API to improve access to this information by citizens, administrations and companies.
• Open data of the BORME: work will be done to promote the publication of the content of the Official Gazette of the Mercantile Registry, especially the section on entrepreneurs, as open data in machine-readable formats and accessible through APIs.
• Databases of the Central Archive of the Treasury:  the public availability of the records of the Central Archive of the Ministry of Finance that do not contain personal data or are not subject to legal restrictions is promoted.
• Secure access to confidential public data for research and innovation: the aim is to establish a governance framework and controlled environments that allow researchers to securely and ethically access public data subject to confidentiality.
• Promotion of the secondary use of health data: work will continue on the National Health Data Space (ENDS), aligned with European regulations, to facilitate the use of health data for research, innovation and public policy purposes. The measure includes the promotion of technical infrastructures, regulatory frameworks and ethical guarantees to protect the privacy of citizens.
• Promotion of data ecosystems for social progress: it seeks to promote collaborative data spaces between public and private entities, under clear governance rules. These ecosystems will help develop innovative solutions that respond to social needs, fostering trust, transparency and the fair return of benefits to citizens.
• Enhancement of quality public data for citizens and companies: the generation of quality data will continue to be promoted in the different ministries and agencies, so that they can be integrated into the AGE's centralised catalogue of reusable information.
• Evolution of the datos.gob.es platform: work continues on the optimization of datos.gob.es. This measure is part of a continuous enrichment to address changing citizen needs and emerging trends.

In addition to this specific heading, measures related to open data are also included in other sections. For example, measure 3.5.5 proposes to transform the Public Sector Procurement Platform into an advanced tool that uses Big Data and Artificial Intelligence to strengthen transparency and prevent corruption. Open data plays a central role here, as it allows massive audits and statistical analyses to be carried out to detect irregular patterns in procurement processes. In addition, by facilitating citizen access to this information, social oversight and democratic control over the use of public funds are promoted.

Another example can be found in measure 4.1.1, where it is proposed to develop a digital tool for the General State Administration that incorporates the principles of transparency and open data from its design. The system would allow the traceability, conservation, access and reuse of public documents, integrating archival criteria, clear language and document standardization. In addition, it would be linked to the National Open Data Catalog to ensure that information is available in open and reusable formats.

The document not only highlights the possibilities of open data: it also highlights the opportunities offered by Artificial Intelligence both in improving access to public information and in the generation of open data useful for collective decision-making.

Promotion of open data in the Autonomous Communities and Cities

As mentioned above, the IV Open Government Plan also includes commitments made by regional bodies, which are detailed in line of action 10 on Open State, many of them focused on the availability of public data. 

For example, the Government of Catalonia reports its interest in optimising the resources available for the management of requests for access to public information, as well as in publishing disaggregated data on public budgets in areas related to children or climate change. For its part, the Junta de Andalucía wants to promote access to information on scientific personnel and scientific production, and develop a Data Observatory of Andalusian public universities, among other measures. Another example can be found in the Autonomous City of Melilla, which is working on an Open Data Portal.

With regard to the local administration, the commitments have been set through the Spanish Federation of Municipalities and Provinces (FEMP). The Network of Local Entities for Transparency and Citizen Participation of the FEMP proposes that local public administrations publish, at least, to choose from the following fields: street; budgets and budget execution; subsidies; public contracting and bidding; municipal register; vehicle census; waste and recycling containers; register of associations; cultural agenda; tourist accommodation; business areas and Industrial; Census of companies or economic agents.

All these measures highlight the interest in open data in Spanish institutions as a key tool to promote open government, promote services and products aligned with citizen needs and optimize decision-making.

A tracking system

The follow-up of the V Open Government Plan is based on a strengthened system of accountability and the strategic use of the HazLab digital platform, where five working groups are hosted, one of them focused on transparency and access to information.

Each initiative of the Plan also has a monitoring file with information on its execution, schedule and results, periodically updated by the responsible units and published on the Transparency Portal.

Conclusions

Overall, the V Open Government Plan seeks a more transparent, participatory Administration oriented to the responsible use of public data. Many of the measures included aim to strengthen the openness of information, improve document management and promote the reuse of data in key sectors such as health, justice or public procurement. This approach not only facilitates citizen access to information, but also promotes innovation, accountability, and a more open and collaborative culture of governance.

Spain has taken another step towards consolidating a public policy based on transparency and digital innovation. Through the General State Administration, the Government of Spain has signed its adhesion to the International Open Data Charter, within the framework of the IX Global Summit of the Open Government Partnership that is being held these days in Vitoria-Gasteiz.

With this adhesion, data is recognized as a strategic asset for the design of public policies and the improvement of services. In addition, the importance of its openness and reuse, together with the ethical use of artificial intelligence, as key drivers for digital transformation and the generation of social and economic value is underlined.

What is the International Open Data Charter?

The International Open Data Charter (ODC) is a global initiative that promotes the openness and reuse of public data as tools to improve transparency, citizen participation, innovation, and accountability. This initiative was launched in 2015 and is backed by governments, organizations and experts. Its objective is to guide public entities in the adoption of responsible, sustainable open data policies focused on social impact, respecting the fundamental rights of people and communities. To this end, it promotes six principles:

• Open data by default: data must be published proactively, unless there are legitimate reasons to restrict it (such as privacy or security).

• Timely and comprehensive data: data should be published in a complete, understandable and agile manner, as often as necessary to be useful. Its original format should also be respected whenever possible.

• Accessible and usable data: data should be available in open, machine-readable formats and without technical or legal barriers to reuse. They should also be easy to find.

• Comparable and interoperable data: institutions should work to ensure that data are accurate, relevant, and reliable, promoting common standards that facilitate interoperability and the joint use of different sources.

• Data for improved governance and citizen engagement: open data should strengthen transparency, accountability, and enable informed participation of civil society.

• Data for inclusive development and innovation: open access to data can drive innovative solutions, improve public services, and foster inclusive economic development.

The Open Data Charter also offers resources, guides and practical reports to support governments and organizations in applying its principles, adapting them to each context. Open data will thus be able to drive concrete reforms with a real impact. 

Spain: a consolidated open data policy that places us as a reference model

Adherence to the International Open Data Charter is not a starting point, but a step forward in a consolidated strategy that places data as a fundamental asset for the country's progress. For years, Spain has already had a solid framework of policies and strategies that have promoted the opening of data as a fundamental part of digital transformation:

• Regulatory framework: Spain has a legal basis that guarantees the openness of data as a general rule, including Law 37/2007 on the reuse of public sector information, Law 19/2013 on transparency and the application of Regulation (EU) 2022/868 on European data governance. This framework establishes clear obligations to facilitate the access, sharing and reuse of public data throughout the state.
• Institutional governance: the General Directorate of Data, under the Secretary of State for Digitalisation and Artificial Intelligence (SEDIA), has the mission of boosting the management, sharing and use of data in different productive sectors of the Spanish economy and society. Among other issues, he leads the coordination of open data policy in the General State Administration.
• Strategic initiatives and practical tools: the Aporta Initiative, promoted by the Ministry for Digital Transformation and Public Service through the Public Business Entity Red.es, has been promoting the culture of open data and its social and economic reuse since 2009. To this end, the datos.gob.es platform centralises access to nearly 100,000 datasets and services made available to citizens by public bodies at all levels of administration. This platform also offers multiple resources (news, analysis, infographics, guides and reports, training materials, etc.) that help to promote data culture. 

To continue moving forward, work is underway on the V Open Government Plan (2025–2029), which integrates specific commitments on transparency, participation, and open data within a broader open government agenda.

All this contributes to Spain positioning, year after year, as a European benchmark in open data.

Next steps: advancing an ethical data-driven digital transformation

Compliance with the principles of the International Open Data Charter will be a transparent and measurable process. SEDIA, through the General Directorate of Data, will coordinate internal monitoring of progress. The Directorate-General for Data will act as a catalyst, promoting a culture of sharing, monitoring compliance with the principles of the Charter and promoting participatory processes to collect input from citizens and civil society.

In addition to the opening of public data, it should be noted that work will continue on the development of an ethical and people-centred digital transformation through actions such as:

• Creation of sectoral data spaces: the aim is to promote the sharing of public and private data that can be combined in a secure and sovereign way to generate high-impact use cases in strategic sectors such as health, tourism, agribusiness or mobility, boosting the competitiveness of the Spanish economy.

• Developing ethical and responsible AI: The national open data strategy is key to ensuring that algorithms are trained on high-quality, diverse and representative datasets, mitigating bias and ensuring transparency. This reinforces public trust and promotes a model of innovation that protects fundamental rights.

In short, Spain's adoption of the International Open Data Charter reinforces an already consolidated trajectory in open data, supported by a solid regulatory framework, strategic initiatives and practical tools that have placed the country as a benchmark in the field. In addition, this accession opens up new opportunities for international collaboration, access to expert knowledge and alignment with global standards. Spain is thus moving towards a more robust, inclusive data ecosystem that is geared towards social, economic and democratic impact.

For the first time in the history of the organization, Spain will host the Global Summit of the Open Government Partnership (OGP), an international institution of reference in open government and citizen participation. From 6 to 10 October 2025, Vitoria-Gasteiz will become the world capital of open government, welcoming more than 2,000 representatives of governments, civil society organisations and public policy experts from all over the world.

Although registration for the Summit is now closed due to high demand, citizens will be able to follow some of the plenary sessions through online broadcasts and participate in the debates through social networks. In addition, the results and commitments arising from the Summit will be available on the OGP and Government of Spain digital platforms.

In this post, we review the objective, program of activities and more information of interest.

Program of activities of a global event

The OGP Global Summit 2025 will take place at the Europa Conference Centre in Vitoria-Gasteiz, where an ambitious agenda will be developed aligned with the Co-Presidency Programme of the Government of Spain and the Philippine organisation Bankay Kita, Cielo Magno. This agenda is structured around three fundamental thematic axes:

• People: Activities that address the protection of civic space, the strengthening of democracy, and balancing the contributions of government, civil society, and the private sector. This axis seeks to ensure that all social actors have a voice in democratic processes.

• Institutions: This block will address the participation of all branches of government to improve transparency, accountability, and citizen participation at all levels of government.

• Technology and data: It will explore digital rights, social media governance, and internet freedom, as well as promoting digital civic space and freedom of expression in the digital age.

The OGP Summit's programming includes high-level plenary sessions, specialized workshops, side events, and networking spaces  that will facilitate knowledge sharing and alliance building. You can check the full program here, among the highlights are:

• Artificial intelligence and open government: the participatory governance of AI and how to ensure that technological development respects democratic principles and human rights will be discussed.

• Algorithmic transparency: the need to make algorithmic systems used in public decision-making visible and understandable will be discussed.

• Open Justice: It will explore how to strengthen the rule of law through more transparent and accessible judicial systems for citizens.

• Inclusive participation: experiences will be shared on how to ensure that populations in vulnerable situations can effectively participate in democratic processes.

• Open public procurement: best practices will be presented to make public spending more transparent and efficient through open procurement processes.

Among the most relevant sessions for the open data ecosystem, the one organized by Red.es "When AI meets open data" stands out, which will be held on the 8th at 9 a.m. Through a round table,  it will be shown how artificial intelligence and open data enhance each other. On the one hand, AI helps to get more out of open data, and on the other hand, this data is essential for training and improving AI systems.

In addition, at the same time, on Thursday 9, the presentation "From data to impact through public-private partnerships and sharing ecosystems" will be held, organized by the General Directorate of Data of the Ministry for Digital Transformation and Public Function. This session will address how public-private sector collaborations can maximize the value of data to make a real impact on society, exploring innovative models of data sharing that respect privacy and foster innovation.

A legacy of democratic transformation

The Vitoria-Gasteiz Summit adds to the tradition of the eight previous summits held in Canada, Georgia, Estonia, France, Korea, Mexico, the United Kingdom and Brazil. Each of these summits has contributed to strengthening the global open government movement, generating concrete commitments that have transformed the relationship between governments and citizens.

In this edition, the most promising and impactful reforms will be recognized through the Open Gov Awards, celebrating innovation and progress in open government globally. These awards highlight initiatives that have demonstrated a real impact on the lives of citizens and that can serve as an inspiration for other countries and territories.

Multi-stakeholder engagement and collaboration

A distinctive feature of OGP is its multi-stakeholder approach, which ensures that both governments and civil society organizations have a say in defining open government agendas. This Summit will be no exception, and will be attended by representatives of citizen organizations, academics, businessmen and activists working for a more participatory and transparent democracy.

At the same time, other events will be held that will complement the official agenda. These activities will address specific topics such as the protection of whistleblowers, youth participation or the integration of the gender perspective in public policies.

This year, the OGP Global Summit 2025 in Vitoria-Gasteiz aims to generate concrete commitments that strengthen democracy in the digital age. As determined by the Open Government Partnership, the participating countries would make new commitments in their national action plans, especially in areas such as the governance of artificial intelligence, the protection of digital civic space and the fight against disinformation.

In summary, the OGP 2025 Global Summit in Vitoria-Gasteiz marks a pivotal moment for the future of democracy. In a context of growing challenges for democratic institutions, this meeting reaffirms the importance of maintaining open, transparent and participatory governments as fundamental pillars of free and prosperous societies.

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.

Spain's open data initiative, datos.gob.es, is revamped to offer a more accessible, intuitive and efficient experience. The change responds to the desire to improve access to data and facilitate its use by citizens, researchers, companies and administrations. With an updated design and new functionalities, the platform will continue to act as a meeting point for all those who seek to innovate based on data.

Focus on high-value datasets and web services

The new website reinforces its central axis, the National Open Data Catalogue, an access point to nearly 100,000 datasets, which group more than 500,000 files, and which the Spanish Public Administration makes available to companies, researchers and citizens for reuse. In it you can find datasets published by bodies of the General State Administration, regional, local, universities, etc.

One of the most relevant advances is the improvement in the possibilities for data publishers to describe in a more precise and structured way the data collections they wish to make available to the public. A more detailed description of the sources makes it easier for users to locate data of interest.

Specifically, the platform incorporates a new metadata model aligned with the latest versions of European standards, the national application profile DCAT-AP-ES, which adapts guidelines from the European metadata exchange scheme DCAT-AP (Data Catalog Vocabulary – Application Profile). This profile improves interoperability at national and European level, facilitates compliance with EU regulations, favors the federation of catalogues and the localization of datasets, and contributes to improving the quality of metadata through validation mechanisms, among other advantages.

In addition, the new version of datos.gob.es introduces significant improvements to the Catalog view, highlighting high-value data (HVD) and data offered through web services. To improve their identification, distinctive symbols have been added that allow you to differentiate the types of resources immediately.

Likewise, the number of documented metadata has been expanded, which is shown to users through a clearer structure. Metadata provided by publishers can now be categorized into general information, data sheet, contact and quality aspects. This new organization provides users with a more complete and accessible view of each dataset.

It is also worth noting that the data request process has been optimized  to offer a more intuitive and fluid experience.

A new information architecture to improve usability

The new datos.gob.es platform has also adapted its information architecture to make it more intuitive and improve navigation and access to relevant information. The new settings make it easier to locate datasets and editorial content, while contributing to accessibility, ensuring that all users, regardless of their technical knowledge or device type, can interact with the website without difficulties.

Among other issues, the menu has been simplified, grouping the information into five large sections:

• Data: includes access to the National Catalogue, along with forms to request new data to be published as open. Information on data spaces and safe environments can also be found in this section, along with a section on resources for publisher support.
• Community: designed to learn more about open data initiatives in Spain and be inspired by examples of reuse through various use cases, organized into companies and applications. It should be noted that the map of initiatives has been updated with revised and improved files, with the option of filtering by the category of data offered, making it easier to consult. In this section we also find information on the challenges and the subsection of sectors, which has been considerably expanded, incorporating all those defined by the Technical Standard for Interoperability of Reuse of Information Resources, which allows a more complete view of both the data and its potential for use according to each area.
• News: users will be able to keep up to date with the latest developments in the data ecosystem through news and information on events related to the subject.
• Knowledge: one of the main novelties of the new platform is that all the resources that seek to promote data-based innovation have been unified under a single heading, making it easier to organize. Through this section, users will be able to access: blog articles, written by experts in various fields (data science, data governance, legal aspects, etc.), where trends in the sector are explained and analyzed; data exercises to learn step by step how to process and work with data; infographics that graphically summarize complex use cases or concepts; interviews with experts in podcast, video or written formats; and guides and reports, aimed at both publishers and reusers of data. Also included is the link to the GitHub repository, whose visibility has been strengthened in order to promote access and collaboration of the data community in the development of open tools and resources.
• About us: in addition to information about the project, FAQs, contact, platform technology, etc., in this section you can access the new dashboard, which now provides more detailed metrics on the catalog, content, and outreach actions.

The new version of datos.gob.es also introduces key improvements to the way content and datasets are located. The platform has been optimized with an intelligent search, which allows a guided search and a greater number of filters, making it easier to find information faster and more accurately.

Improved internal functionalities

The new version of datos.gob.es also brings with it internal improvements that will facilitate management for data publishers, optimizing processes. The private part accessed by agencies has been revamped to offer a more intuitive and functional interface. The console has been redesigned to streamline data management and administration, allowing for more efficient and structured control.

In addition, the content manager has been updated to its latest version, which guarantees better performance.

These enhancements reinforce datos.gob.es's commitment to the continuous evolution and optimization of its platform, ensuring a more accessible and efficient environment for all actors involved in the publication and management of open data. The new platform not only improves the user experience, but also drives data reuse across multiple industries.

We invite you to explore what's new and reap the benefits of data as a driver of innovation!

In an increasingly complex world, public decisions need more than intuition: they require scientific evidence. This is where I+P (Innovation + Public Policy) initiatives come into play: an intersection between creativity, data-driven knowledge, and policy action.

In this article we will explain this concept, including examples and information about funding programs.

What is I+P?

I+P is not a mathematical formula, but a strategic practice that combines scientific knowledge, research, and citizen participation to improve the formulation, implementation, and evaluation of public policies. It is not only a matter of applying technology to the public sphere, but of rethinking how decisions are made, how solutions are formulated and how society is involved in these processes through the application of scientific methodologies.

This idea stems from the concept of "science for public policy", also known as "science for policy" or "Science for Policy" (S4P) and implies active collaboration between public administrations and the scientific community.

I+P initiatives promote empirical evidence and experimentation. To this end, they promote the use of data, emerging technologies, pilot tests, agile methodologies and feedback loops that help design more efficient and effective policies, focused on the real needs of citizens. This facilitates real-time decision-making  and the possibility of making agile adjustments in situations that require quick responses. In short, it is about providing more creative and accurate responses to today's challenges, such as climate change or digital inequality, areas where traditional policies can fall short.

The following visual summarizes these and other benefits.

Source: FECYT Call for Public Innovation - adapted by datos.gob.es.

Examples of R+P initiatives

The use of data for political decision-making was evident during the COVID-19 pandemic, where policymakers were adapting the measures to be taken based on reports from institutions such as the World Health Organization (WHO). But beyond these types of extraordinary events, today we find consolidated initiatives that increasingly seek to promote innovation and decision-making based on scientific data in the public sphere on an ongoing basis. Let's look at two examples.

• Periodic reports from scientific institutions to bring scientific knowledge closer to public decision-making

Scientific reports on topics such as climate change, bacterial resistance or food production are examples of how science can guide informed policy decisions.

The Science4Policy initiative  of the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) is an example of this. It is a collection of thematic reports that present solid evidence, generated in its research centers, on relevant social problems. Each report includes:

• An introduction to the problem and its social impact.
• Information on the research carried out by the CSIC on the subject.
• Conclusions and recommendations for public policies.

Its main objective is to transform scientific knowledge into accessible contributions for non-specialized audiences, thus facilitating informed decisions by public authorities.

• Public innovation laboratories, a space for science-based creativity

Public innovation labs or GovLabs are experimental spaces that allow public employees, scientists, experts in various fields and citizens to co-create policies, prototype solutions and learn iteratively.

An example is the Public Innovation Laboratory (LIP) promoted by the National Institute of Public Administration (INAP), where pilots have been carried out  on the use of technologies to promote the new generation of jobs, intermunicipal collaboration to share talent or the decentralization of selective tests. In addition, they have an Innovation Resources Catalogue where tools with open licences launched by various organisations are compiled and can be used to support public entrepreneurs.

It is also worth highlighting the Spanish Network for Public Innovation and Scientific Transfer, promoted by the NovaGob Foundation. It is a collaborative space that brings together professionals, public administrations, universities and third sector organisations with the aim of transforming public management in Spain. Through working groups and repositories of good practices, it promotes the use of artificial intelligence, administrative simplification and the improvement of citizen service.

We also find public innovation laboratories at the regional level, such as Govtechlab Madrid, a project led by the madri+d Foundation for Knowledge that connects startups and digital SMEs with public institutions to solve real challenges. During the 2023/2024 academic year, they launched 9 pilots, for example, to collect and analyse the opinion of citizens to make better decisions in the Alcobendas City Council, unify the collection and management of data in the registrations of the activities of the Youth Area of the Boadilla del Monte City Council or provide truthful and updated information digitally on the commercial fabric of Mostoles.

The role of governments and public institutions

Innovation in public policy can be driven by a diversity of actors: public administrations open to change, universities and research centres,  civic startups and technology companies, civil society organisations or committed citizens.

The European Commission, for example, plays a key role in strengthening the science-for-policy ecosystem in Europe, promoting the effective use of scientific knowledge in decision-making at all levels: European, national, regional and local. Through programmes such as Horizon Europe and the European Research Area Policy Agenda 2025-2027, actions are promoted to develop capacities, share good practices and align research with societal needs.

In Spain we also find actions such as the recent call for funding from the Spanish Foundation for Science and Technology (FECYT), the Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities, and the National Office of Scientific Advice, whose objective is to promote:

• Research projects that generate new scientific evidence applicable to the design of public policies (Category A).
• Scientific advice and knowledge transfer activities between researchers and public officials (Category B).

Projects can receive up to €100,000 (Category A) or €25,000 (Category B), covering up to 90% of the total cost. Research organizations, universities, health entities, technology centers, R+D centers and other actors that promote the transfer of R+D can participate. The deadline to apply for the aid ends on September 17, 2025. For more information, you should visit the rules of the call or attend some training sessions that are being held.

Conclusion

In a world where social, economic and environmental challenges are increasingly complex, we need new ways of thinking and acting from public institutions. For this reason, R+P is not a fad, it is a necessity that allows us to move from "we think it works" to "we know it works", promoting a more adaptive, agile and effective policy.

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!