Not to be missed: OKCon 2013 in Geneva – the Opendata.ch event of the year!
Together with the Open Knowledge Foundation (OKFN) and Lift Conferences, Opendata.ch is a proud co-organiser of this year’s Open Knowledge Conference, OKCon 2013 for short, which will take place in Geneva from 16 to 19 September. The following invitation was recently sent to our mailing list and to everyone who has ever taken part in an Opendata.ch hackday or conference:
Dear friends of Open Data,
As many of you already know, this year’s Open Knowledge Conference, OKCon, takes place from 16 to 18 September – here in Switzerland, in Geneva!
For a few days we will thus be the focus of the entire international Open Data community, and we expect several hundred guests from more than 50 countries, and not least the most high-calibre Swiss field of participants there has ever been on this topic.
Under the motto „Open Data – Broad, Deep, Connected“, experiences gained and planned developments will be presented: the OKCon programme offers a broad overview of current developments as well as outstanding depth of content and, with a multitude of workshops, concrete opportunities for active participation.
A special highlight from a Swiss perspective is the launch event of the Confederation’s Open Data portal. In this context, Federal Councillor Alain Berset has taken on the patronage of OKCon 2013 and underlines in his welcome address to the conference that „broad and fair access to knowledge is a basic prerequisite for a functioning democracy and society“.
But OKCon is not only a welcome setting for official Switzerland’s first appearance on the international Open Data stage. The adoption of the Open Data Charter at the last G8 summit clearly shows that Open Data is becoming an international standard that every democratic country governed by the rule of law will have to meet in future. Open Data is not the hobby of a few undaunted transparency enthusiasts. Open Data belongs at the top of the priority list for everyone who bears responsibility for data in public administration, in companies, in the media, in scientific institutions and in civil society organisations. OKCon in Geneva is the best opportunity to get clarity on this.
The Open Knowledge Conference is a MUST for everyone interested and involved in Open Data! This year there is no other international event anywhere in the world dedicated exclusively to this topic. We invite you all to get your ticket for OKCon 2013 today! And we look forward to seeing you in Geneva on 16 September!
With warm regards
For the Opendata.ch board
André Golliez and Hannes Gassert
English version after the jump:
Not to be missed: OKCon 2013 in Geneva, the Opendata.ch event of the year!
Dear friends of Opendata.ch,
As many of you already know the Open Knowledge Conference, or short OKCon 2013, will take place 16. – 19. September here in Switzerland, in Geneva!
At least for a few days Switzerland will be the center of the international Open Data community. We expect several hundreds of guests from more than 50 countries – but also a very prestigious field of participants from Switzerland.
The theme of the conference „Open Data – Broad, Deep, Connected“, lends itself to present current as well as future projects. The programme will offer a broad overview of current developments, comprehensive thematic inputs and a number of workshops that will offer possibilities for hands-on participation.
One very special highlight from a Swiss point of view will be the launch of the Open Data portal of the Swiss federation. In this context Federal Councillor Alain Bernet, under who’s patronage the conference is going to take place, will adress the conference, stating that „broad and fair access to knowledge are one of the prerequisites for a functioning democracy and civil society”.
But OKCon is not only the setting for the first appearance of Switzerland on the international Open Data stage. The recent ratification of the Open Data Charter at the G8 summit shows clearly, that Open Data has developed into an international standard now, one that every democratic country will have to live up to in the future. Open Data is no longer just the pastime of some tireless transparency enthusiasts. Open Data must now be seen as a top priority for administrations, corporations, the media, scientific institutions and other civil organisations, for anyone really holding the rights to any data. OKCon in Geneva will be a great opportunity to look into all of this.
The Open Knowledge Conference is mandatory for for anyone interested in Open Data! There won’t be another international Open Knowledge event of this scale anywhere else in the world this year. We invite all of you to purchase your tickets for OKCon 2013 today. And we look forward to seeing you 16. September in Geneva.
Kind regards,
for the Opendata.ch board
André Golliez and Hannes Gassert
Please find below a few links to blog-posts from the OKCon Blog:
OKCon 2013 Invited Speakers: Ellen Miller
OKCon 2013 Invited Speakers: John Ellis
OKCon 2013 Invited Speakers: Victoria Stodden