First Open Data Camp for more direct data democracy in Switzerland

Now that the debate in the media and politics has been launched, it is time to get down to business with Open Data in Switzerland. From 30 September to 1 October, designers, developers, journalists and activists will come together in Lausanne and Zurich for the first “make.opendata.ch” to help Switzerland towards more “direct data democracy”.

Open Data, that is, the use and redistribution of data in the public interest, is a concept that must be discussed and implemented at every level – from the Federal Palace in Bern down to the neighbourhood. The first Swiss Open Data hackathon takes this into account and is held across regions. With Lausanne (EPFL; tbd.) and Zurich (ZHdK) as venues, different languages and technology hubs are covered. Both venues are equipped for two days of first-class developing, visualising and discussing.

The events bring thinkers and doers together. All of them are interested in making more government data freely accessible. Committed designers, passionate developers and interested citizens meet, and expertise and civic engagement come together. With a feel for interesting questions and skills in design, data, web and mobile, they explore where Open Data can take us here in Switzerland too.

make.opendata.ch is supported by opendata.ch, the Open Data initiative of /ch/open (Swiss Open Systems User Group) and SI (Swiss Informatics Society). Together with the Parliamentary Group on Digital Sustainability, they launched the discussion and implementation of Open Data in Switzerland in June with an event for experts and politicians at the Federal Archives, a widely noticed manifesto and various parliamentary motions. The initiative is politically and financially independent.

Those interested can now register at make.opendata.ch. Participation is free of charge. Food, drink and bandwidth will be provided.