Open Data, Open Cities. Case Helsinki Region Infoshare www.hri.fi

Open data is a global movement and still quite a young movement, but it is spreading rapidly. Adopting and implementing an open data strategy is a big issue and a hughe task in practice. By opening up their databases and data sets, the Helsinki Region Infoshare cities (see www.hri.fi) wish to increase their citizens ’ understanding of the development of the cities and their neighbourhoods. Open and easily available urban and regional information contributes to a better city and higher quality life of the citizens, it can create new services and businesses, and it can boost research and development activities. Open data advances tranparency, supports participation and engagement, and will create pressures for change sand improvement. It is all about a new information policy and culture. Open data enhance democracy and social and economic growth. Therefore it is desirable that NSOs would provide official statstics as open data to as large an extent as possible. The paper will demonstrate, by using the Helsinki Region Infoshare service as a case study, how various end-user groups will use and benefit from open data. For example, geo-coded public statistical data accessible as open data on cities, their functional urban regions, and also sub-city districts provides new framework conditions for innovative statistical applications and numerous possibilities for mobile and other applications. Open data enables smart solutions and contributes to a smarter city. Key words: open data, open statistics, Helsinki Region Infoshare, open innovations 1