IDSP members speak at the Data for Policy 2024 Conference
August 6, 2024
Members of the IDSP shared their insights at the Data for Policy 2024 Annual Conference, held at Imperial College London from Tuesday, July 9 to Thursday, July 11, 2024. The event offered a platform for fostering connections with policymakers, academia, and researchers, aligning with one of the partnership’s key objectives.
Keynote speakers included Jennifer Prendki, Google DeepMind; Aldo Faisal, Imperial College and The Alan Turing Institute; Russell Wald, Stanford Institute for Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence (HAI); Sir Ian Diamond, UK National Statistician; Theo Blackwell, Chief Digital Officer for London, Mayor of London; and Lord Holmes of Richmond, House of Lords, UK
Special Sessions
The conference featured two special sessions that discussed approaches to opening and sharing data and the collaborative efforts needed among industry, governments, and academia to harness data for societal good and business benefit.
Exploring Open Data with Leaders in Industry, which brought together industry leaders to discuss the opportunities and challenges of open data. Jennifer Hansen, Director of Open Data & Strategy at Microsoft (Chair & IDSP member); Afua van Haasteren, Director of Health Policy & External Affairs at Roche; Carlos Martínez Miguel, Global Director – AI & Data Solutions and Services at Telefonica Tech (IDSP member), Yiu-Shing Pang, Open Data Manager at UK Power Networks (IDSP member)
At a Time of Rapid Advances in AI, Are We Instead Entering a Data Winter? explored the impact on data accessibility given rapid advancements of AI development. Stefaan Verhulst, The Gov Lab at New York University (Chair & IDSP affiliate); Barbara Ubaldi, Head of Digital Government and Data Unit at the OECD; Elena Simperl, Director of Research at Open Data Institute (IDSP affiliate); Gina Neff, Executive Director of the Minderoo Centre for Technology & Democracy at the University of Cambridge; Sonia Cooper, Assistant General Counsel at Microsoft (IDSP member)
Key insights
Panelists emphasized the potential benefits of opening private sector data, noting that enhanced transparency can lead to greater public trust, while innovation fueled by accessible data can drive societal progress. Examples included:
- Telefonica’s partnerships with local governments to improve urban mobility and reduce traffic congestion, as well as its collaboration with the Spanish government to track the movement of Ukrainian refugees and optimize social services deployment, demonstrated the tangible benefits of data openness.
- UK Power Networks’ initiative to release grid data to researchers and innovators highlighted how open data can lead to the development of better energy management solutions.
The panelists also discussed how AI can enhance data analysis, improve decision-making processes, and enable predictive modeling. These advancements allow for more accurate and efficient use of data, helping unlock new insights and opportunities.
Additionally, there was discussion about the importance of robust data governance frameworks to build effective partnerships with governments and other stakeholders, as well as to cultivate trust and collaboration, which is essential for positive outcomes. In developing those frameworks, there was emphasis on the need for clear guidelines and best practices.
A Data for Policy 2024 Book of Abstracts is available.
Looking Ahead
The Data for Policy 2024 conference underscored the pivotal role of open data in driving innovation and tackling global challenges, emphasizing the importance of collaborative efforts and robust data governance frameworks for ensuring data accessibility and fostering successful partnerships.
The conference offered the IDSP a valuable platform to connect with policymakers, academia, and researchers through insightful panels, reinforcing the partnership’s goals and paving the way for future collaborations.
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“Speaking about Telefonica’s approach to data monetization and social good was a highlight of the conference for me. It was particularly rewarding to share how our data helped the Spanish Government understand the movement of Ukrainian refugees, aiding in better positioning social and healthcare aid. I appreciated building the connection with researchers the enriching debate facilitated by intelligent questions after the panel.” – Carlos Martínez Miguel, Global Director – AI & Data Solutions and Services at Telefonica Tech
“Participating in this conference highlighted the significance of building connections between policymakers, academia, researchers, and industry leaders. It was inspiring to see how public-private partnerships can address pressing societal issues and create impactful solutions.” – Jennifer Hansen, Director, Open Data Policy & Strategy, Microsoft
“The Data for Policy conference provided a great platform to connect with researchers about the incentives for industry to open their data and their approach to making their data more available, such as the regulatory push for data sharing in the utility sector and illustrating the economic and reputational benefits of data sharing and how these translate not only in societal value, but into business advantages “- Yiu-Shing Pang, Open Data Manager, UK Power Networks
“I appreciated the chance to delve into the challenges and opportunities of data accessibility during the conference. Sharing Microsoft’s initiatives and hearing from other leaders about their approaches to data governance reinforced the importance of ethical and responsible data use in driving societal progress.” – Sonia Cooper, Assistant General Counsel, Microsoft