Helsinki Region Infoshare

At Forum Virium Helsinki, we are progressing at a fast pace towards making public-sector data open and available to all. The aim of the Helsinki Region Infoshare project is to distribute information concerning the Helsinki area in an efficient, straightforward way to all interested parties.

Data concerning information, figures and statistics that had previously only been available to municipal leaders and employees will now be made open to the public. This work is based on the principle that everyone should be able to utilise public- sector data which has been collected and compiled using tax-payers’ money. 

To date, the opening of public-sector data has been tried in some municipalities, but it has been largely on an ad hoc basis rather than as part of a broader, coordinated programme. The data that is set for public release in the Helsinki Region Infoshare project relates to, for instance, living conditions, economics, employment and exercise.

Open regional data on the web

In the project, an online service will be implemented to allow users to search and utilise open public-sector data. A beta version of the web service will be launched at the beginning of 2011. Afterwards, the service will be developed further using a user-centric approach based on testing and learning. The target is to have a significant portion of the data for the Helsinki region and its various areas accessible by 2012.  

The data will be offered for the use of municipal administrations, universities, higher education institutions, research institutes and citizens alike. The data can be exploited freely and without charge.

Aiming for new business activity

The project aims to encourage application developers to create new web applications based on public-sector data. The basic idea is that by providing open public-sector data to be freely accessed and utilised, new opportunities for services and business activities will be created. The project also aims to promote R&D activities and increase citizens’ understanding and involvement in what is going on in their area.  

The municipalities of Espoo, Helsinki, Vantaa and Kauniainen, Forum Virium Helsinki and The Finnish Innovation Fund (Sitra) are participants in this project, which is coordinated by the City of Helsinki’s Urban Facts. Forum Virium Helsinki is responsible for project planning and starting and coordinating subprojects. The project is scheduled to run from 2010 - 2012.

Project's webpag (English): www.hri.fi/en
Facebook: www.facebook.com/helsinkiregioninfoshare

Further information
Project manager Ville Meloni, 
Tel. +358 400 260 000,  
ville.meloni(at)forumvirium.fi