Open Government Data (OGD) Strategy for Switzerland (2019-2023)

The Open Government Data (OGD) Strategy for Switzerland (2019-2023) aims to drive the country’s digital transformation by providing free access to government data. This initiative is intended to enhance transparency, participation, and efficiency within the administration, promote innovation, and support the UN 2030 Agenda for sustainable development. It is designed to modernise administrative processes, allowing everyone to participate in politics on an equal footing, and to spur economic innovation by facilitating relationships between the administration, the economy, and the general public.

Core Principles

1. Open by Default: Data produced or commissioned by public authorities should, in principle, be considered open government data unless restricted by legal provisions. By 2020, such data will be published in a machine-readable format and referenced on opendata.swiss.
2. Data as Infrastructure: Data is considered a non-rival good, serving multiple purposes and acting as a common good. This principle aims to treat data as an essential infrastructure component for society, politics, and the economy.
3. Collaborative Approach: The strategy emphasises cooperation among all stakeholders, including public authorities, private enterprises, and the general public, to optimise the use and value of open government data.

Strategic Objectives

1. Coordinated Data Publication: The strategy mandates the central federal administration to publish new data sets as open government data. Existing data sets will be identified and published based on political priorities, such as environment, health, and mobility.
2. Quality and Standardisation: Published data must meet defined quality standards and be described using standardised metadata. The strategy includes regular reviews and updates of these standards to ensure data reliability and accessibility.
3. Central Portal – opendata.swiss: This platform serves as the central access point for open government data in Switzerland. It aims to reference data from various sources, making it easier for users to find and utilise the data. The portal will operate continuously, with no maintenance interruptions during business hours.
4. Data Register: A continuously updated data register will replace the periodic inventories, providing an overview of government data sets and facilitating coordinated and topic-based data publication.
5. Promotion of Data Use: Measures will be taken to encourage the use of open government data through events, educational initiatives, and the development of tools and manuals. The strategy aims to foster a data ecosystem where stakeholders can interact and benefit from published data.

Implementation and Resources

• Organisational Structure: The Federal Department of Home Affairs (FDHA) oversees the strategy, supported by an interdepartmental committee. The Federal Statistical Office (FSO) operates the OGD office, responsible for the technical aspects of the strategy.
• Resources: The strategy will be implemented using existing resources, with specific roles and responsibilities assigned within the federal administration. The potential financial impact of lost revenue from fee-charging data will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.

Monitoring and Evaluation

The strategy includes an annexe defining measures, indicators, and responsible entities for each objective. The FDHA, together with the Conference of General Secretaries, will regularly assess the strategy’s implementation and make necessary adjustments. The results of these assessments will be published as open government data.