What is open data?

This chapter is focused on developing a basic understanding of data and how it permeates different aspects of society. This involves knowledge of how it is structured, the politics behind this and implications regarding transparency. We understand data as a set of values of qualitative or quantitative variables about one or more persons or objects. It is transformed into information when data is created, extracted, elaborated and used with pre-established objectives. The information system, made up of data of the same or different form (the data set is defined as a “dataset”), is transformed into knowledge when it is interpreted through tools, applications, methods, indicators, etc.

The first unit in this module presents an overview of data and introduces the concepts of open data, showcasing different techno-political elements of its structure including principles and standards for publication. The second unit presents an introduction to open science and open science data, and furthermore, principles for scientific data management. Finally, the third unit showcases the importance of fostering innovation with open data to promote the creation of sustainable business models.