What is Open Data?

Open Data Definition

There are a few definitions of open data, however the most common definitions are:

Definition 1 - Open Data, is research data that:

a. Is freely available on the internet;

b. Permits any user to download, copy, analyse, re-process, pass to software or use for any other purpose; and

c. Is without financial, legal, or technical barriers other than those inseparable from gaining access to the internet itself.

Definition 2 - Open research data: are those research data that can be freely accessed, used, modified, and shared, provided that there is appropriate acknowledgement if required

Benefits of Open Data

The benefits of Open Data:

• Improves the integrity of the scientific and scholarly record;
• Helps ensure we don’t miss breakthroughs;
• Accelerates the pace of discovery;
• Grows the economy; and
• Is becoming recognized by many in the research community as an important part of the research enterprise