According to the Committee for the Development of the Information Society, the number of datasets opened on the Lithuanian Open Data Portal (ADP) increased by 22% from 616 to 715 in the first half of the year, while the number of page views tripled, with almost 206,000 views and almost 138,000 downloads of datasets. Data was downloaded for use twice as often this half-year as last year. There was also a significant increase in the number of requests to open new datasets this year - from 33 to 106.
"We aim to open up the widest possible range of datasets so that all sections of society can benefit from open data. By opening up more and more data, we are giving today's businesses more opportunities to use it to develop innovative new products or services. Next year, we have earmarked €6 million for businesses to develop innovative solutions using data opened up by institutions. This should give a new impetus to businesses to make more use of the potential of open data," said Aušrinė Armonaitė, Minister for the Economy and Innovation.
This semester saw the opening up of demanded SODRA data on pension accrual and pension benefits, as well as 5 valuable datasets from the State Tax Inspectorate (STI), which made public personalised data on people's declared income, income taxes paid, declared expenses, etc. The State Service for Accreditation of Health Care Activities has opened up data on the licences of health care institutions, which allows to check whether an institution providing health care services is licensed for that purpose.
The most popular categories in terms of frequency of downloads are social security, economic activities and business and education. The datasets have been downloaded almost 42,000 times for social security, almost 35,000 times for economic activity and business and more than 19,000 times for education.
"Data is not a luxury but a necessity today. It is both a sign of the maturity of the state and a tangible benefit for business and people. It is encouraging that the amount of data conveniently opened and prepared for use is growing rapidly. We note that more and more health institutions and bodies are now opening up data, which is essential for both the public and the healthcare providers themselves," said Erika Kuročkina, Adviser to the Minister of the Economy and Innovation.
By the end of the year, the data sets of the Migration Department, the State Patients' Fund, the Vilnius University Hospital Santaros Clinic, the Institute of Hygiene, the State Plant Breeding Service, the Environmental Protection Agency and other institutions are to be opened. Work on opening up data from the Centre of Registers, the Ministry of Finance and other institutions will also continue.
The Ministry of the Economy and Innovation, in cooperation with all public institutions, aims to open up as much depersonalized data as possible to the public and to business, and to publish it on the Lithuanian Open Data Portal, which is the main platform for open data and for business demand for open data in Lithuania. It is estimated that the rational use of data can generate an additional 2% of national GDP.
