Thread by @ODIHQ

1/12 Thread on our new report: 'Becoming more open: the view from four European cities'🏙️
theodi.org/article/becomi… #opencities #smartcities

@bsnaith_ from the 'open #cities' team is going to take you through some of the key points from the report...

2/12 All four of these cities – #Amsterdam, #Gdańsk, #Hamburg and #Helsinki – have made significant progress in the move towards becoming open cities. The report shares how they're developing data infrastructure, training staff, engaging with citizens and fostering innovation.

3/12 The report talks about some of the challenges of using #data and #technology, but also how being open and being trustworthy with data can produce better services for citizens, businesses and communities.

4/12 The movement of cities towards a more open future – where #opendata, open innovation and civic engagement leads to the fairer and more effective use of technology – is encouraging and we hope the progress continues.

5/12 #Data and #technology have great potential to be used by cities to make better decisions and make the city work better for everyone. But this has to be a deliberate process with focus on delivering positive value through #services.

6/12 Cities need to focus on solving specific, local challenges using #data. By being open and building trust while doing this, they can move away from the focus on technology and work towards making services work for citizens, businesses and all communities.

7/12 Cities already have access to a wealth of useful data that could help them to achieve their goals. Using tools such as our ecosystem mapping tool can help cities to see where data flows, and opportunities and blockages to using and sharing it (theodi.org/article/data-e…).

8/12 Developing internal #skills and capability is vital. Cities should improve the #digital capability of their teams by upskilling staff and hiring #developers. They should ensure that the belief that data can improve services is held throughout all levels of the organisation

9/12 Data held by the private sector has the potential to help answer a wide range of valuable questions, improve citizens’ lives and deliver better #services. Cities and the private sector should be engaging and collaborating in order to better utilise data about the city.

10/12 Tapping into the collective knowledge of #citizens, groups and #startups can lead to better engagement, better decision making and better services. Online engagement platforms, civic panels, #innovation events and startups #incubators should all be explored and encouraged.

11/12 Although #cities are different in regards to their history, and their cultural, societal and geographical make-up, this does not mean that cities cannot work together and learn from the challenges and successes each has. Set up links and share stories to help each other.

12/12 Conclusions:
* Address local challenges
* Increase access to data from across public and private sector
* Develop internal skills and motivation
* Develop links between private and public sector to enable access to data
* Engage citizens and communities
* Learn from others

And if any of this is interesting to you, please get in touch with [e-mail]. Thanks for reading!