Open Data Innovation And Outreach Fund Announced

Finance Minister Conor Murphy is encouraging individuals and businesses to apply for grants of up to £5,000 from the new Open Data Innovation and Outreach Fund.

Whether it's building an app or interactive data visualisation, organising a hackathon or coming up with a new way to examine the impact of Covid 19, the annual £40,000 funding scheme is aimed at promoting the innovative use of open data.

Encouraging people to apply, Finance Minister Conor Murphy said: "This Innovation and Outreach Fund is a real opportunity for people to come up with new and innovative ways to use government data.

"From increasing accountability and transparency to improving public services and helping citizens bring about social change, open government data can have a positive impact and this Fund is an opportunity to showcase that.

"Last year, we had a range of projects including one aimed at tackling online disinformation about Covid 19 and I look forward to seeing what proposals this year brings."

Welcoming the latest cycle of the fund, Paul Braithwaite from the Northern Ireland Open Government Network said: "Transparency, accountability and citizen participation are crucial hallmarks of good government. It's great to see this fund being opened again, giving people and organisations an excellent opportunity to make use of government data for public benefit."

Further information about the Innovation and Outreach Fund can be found at: www.finance-ni.gov.uk/niopendatafund. The deadline to apply is 4 March 2022.