Castilla y León open data competition launches its 8th edition

The Junta de Castilla y León has just launched a new edition of its open data competition. In doing so, it seeks to recognise the implementation of projects using datasets from its Open Data Portal. The call for applications will be open until the end of September, so you can take advantage of the remaining weeks of summer to submit your application.

What does the competition consist of?

The objective of the 8th Open Data Competition is to recognise the implementation of projects using open data in four categories:

• Ideas" category: participants will have to describe an idea to create studies, services, websites or applications for mobile devices.
• Products and Services" category: studies, services, websites or applications for mobile devices, which must be accessible to all citizens via the web through a URL, will be awarded.
• Didactic Resource" category: consists of the creation of new and innovative open didactic resources to support classroom teaching. These resources must be published under Creative Commons licences.
• Category "Data Journalism": Journalistic pieces published or updated (in a relevant way) in both written and audiovisual media are sought.

All categories have one thing in common: the project must use at least one dataset from the Junta de Castilla y León's Open Data portal. These datasets can be combined, if the authors so wish, with other data sources, private or public, from any level of administration.

Who can participate?

The competition is open to any natural or legal person who has carried out a project and meets the requirements of each category. Neither public administrations nor those persons who have collaborated directly or indirectly in the preparation of the regulatory bases and the call for applications may participate.

You can participate as an individual or in a group. In addition, the same person may submit more than one application for the same or different categories. The same project can also be submitted in several categories, although it can only be awarded in one category.

What do the prizes consist of?

A jury will evaluate the proposals received on the basis of a series of requirements, including their usefulness, economic value, originality, quality, etc. Once all the projects have been evaluated, a number of winners will be announced, who will receive a diploma, open data consultancy and the following prize money :

1. Category Ideas.
   • First prize €1,500.
   • Second prize 500€.
2. Category Products and services. In this case, a special award for students has also been created, aimed at people enrolled in the 2023/2024 and 2024/2025 academic years, both in university and non-university education, provided that it is official.
   • First prize €2,500.
   • Second prize: €1,500.
   • Third prize: €500.
   • Student Prize: €1,500.
3. Category Educational resource.
   • First prize: €1,500.
4. Category Data Journalism.
   • First prize: €1,500.
   • Second prize : €1,000.

In addition, the winning entries will be disseminated and promoted through the Open Data Portal of Castilla y León and other media of the Administration.

What are the deadlines?

The deadline for receiving applications opened on 23 July 2024, one day after the publication of the rules in the Official Gazette of Castilla y León.  Participants will have until 23 September 2024 to submit their applications.

How can I participate?

Applications can be submitted in person or electronically.

• In person: at the General Registry of the Regional Ministry of the Presidency , the Registry Assistance Offices of the Regional Government of Castilla y León or at any of the places established in article 16.4 of Law 39/2015.

• Electronic: through the electronic office.

Applications should include information on:

• Author(s) of the project.
• Project title.
• Category or categories for which you are applying.
• Project report, with a maximum length of 1,000 words.

You have all the detailed information at the website, where the competition rules are included.

With this new edition, the Castilla y León Data Portal reaffirms its commitment not only to the publication of open data, but also to the promotion of its reuse. Such actions are a showcase to promote examples of the use of open data in different fields. You can see last year's winning projects in this article.

Come and take part!