International Open Data Day – March 5

The roots of International Open Data Day trace back to the broader open data movement, which emerged in the early 2000s. During this time, governments, organizations, and communities began to realize the potential of making data publicly available, not just for transparency but also for fostering innovation and solving societal issues. Open data refers to data that is made freely accessible, meaning anyone can use, modify, and share it without restrictions. The idea was simple – if data were open and accessible, it could lead to better decision-making, greater accountability, and more innovative solutions to pressing global challenges.

In the mid-2000s, several initiatives aimed at opening up government data gained traction. Prominent organizations such as the Open Knowledge Foundation, founded in 2004, played a critical role in advocating for open access to data and promoting its benefits across various sectors. The Open Knowledge Foundation’s work in spreading awareness about the value of open data laid the foundation for what would later become International Open Data Day.

In 2010, the Open Knowledge Foundation, which had already been organizing and supporting open data initiatives globally, decided to create a special event dedicated to celebrating open data. Thus, International Open Data Day was born. The first International Open Data Day took place on February 6, 2010 (yes, it was held a month earlier than usual), and it marked the beginning of a new global tradition. The idea was to bring together citizens, government officials, developers, and activists to celebrate open data, share ideas, and develop projects that made use of open datasets. The event aimed to showcase how open data could be used to improve transparency, foster civic engagement, and solve real-world problems.

The initial celebration was small but impactful, with events organized across various cities worldwide. Participants came together to work on projects ranging from creating data visualizations to developing open data-driven apps. These events proved to be so effective that they sparked an annual tradition, and the Open Knowledge Foundation decided to make the event a global annual celebration of open data.

After the successful launch of the first International Open Data Day in 2010, the event’s popularity skyrocketed. In the years that followed, more cities around the world hosted events, and the scope of the celebration expanded significantly. International Open Data Day became more than just a day for developers and data enthusiasts – it became a rallying point for citizens, journalists, and government officials interested in the benefits of open data.

The event soon saw participation from over 30 countries and hundreds of cities, with people joining together to create innovative solutions and raise awareness about the importance of open data. Governments and public institutions began to recognize the value of releasing datasets and using them to engage with the public more effectively.

In the years following the inaugural event, the date of International Open Data Day changed slightly, with the event moving to the first Saturday of March each year. This shift made the celebration more accessible to people globally, as the first Saturday in March provided a more consistent, predictable time for people to gather and participate. Since then, March 5 has become the official date for International Open Data Day, though the event continues to span several days in many places.