BE-GOOD: Open Data for a smarter society

Project Summary

Data is becoming more and more a major asset of the future knowledge economy. In this context the Interreg VB NWE project BE-GOOD (Building an Ecosystem to Generate Opportunities in Open Data) was developed to generate value from and stimulate sustainable ecosystems for open data in regions in North–West Europe.

BE-GOOD is a pioneering project aiming to unlock, re-use and extract value from Public Sector Information (PSI) to develop data driven services in the area of infrastructure and environment. The market potential to re-use PSI, such as geospatial data, is significant. Currently, the market for PSI-based services is limited as innovators face the following major barriers:

1. Lack of public body experience with the publication of PSI, limiting the availability of data

2. Limited attention to commercial potential of data, limiting the relevance of data

3. Shortage of links between PSI initiatives and SME solution providers, limiting market uptake

BE-GOOD will deliver 11 pilots to extract commercial value from PSI. This is estimated at € 50 million and will also contribute to delivering 15% to 20% reduction of cost that big data is expected to enable. The project uses a novel demand driven approach, starting with public service delivery challenges across North West Europe.

By unlocking datasets and better engaging with the marketplace, the development of applications, software or algorithms for traffic management, air and water quality monitoring and infrastructure maintenance planning will be made possible.

Discover our 11 innovative solutions:

• Data 4 Organisational change
• Safer Roads
• Discovery of Natural Heritage
• Smart Waste Water Information Management (SWWIM)
• Predictive Maintenance of Roads
• Rate My Transport Service
• Continuity of traffic flow
• HGV Permit Checker
• Energy Efficient Infrastructures
• Cleanest Air Route
• Wastewater Tracing

Work packages

To make sure these project objectives will be achieved, a number of work packages has been created. WP T1 methodology: open data sharing and innovation networks has the aim to develop a toolbox and transnational methods which will allow the release of data, use of data and engage with solution providers in adressing the 10 challenges provided in WP T2 challenges: developing novel PSI-driven services. 

The objective of WP T3 implementation of prototypes in an operational context is to test 5 selected prototype solutions provided in WP T2 in operational environments. The aim is to further those challenges for which succesful prototypes were delivered, to real life implementation.

WP LT, which focusses on the long term development of the project, aims at supporting enterprises with a wider uptake of the validated innovative PSI driven services they have delivered during BE-GOOD.

WP communication develops communication tools such as videos, newletters and blogs to communicate the objectives, results and benefits of this project. 

In the capitalisation workpackage we will push our results one step further. 6 of the BE-GOOD solutions will be replicated and implemented either in new geographical regions, in new economic sectors and by new target groups.