EIMIN initiative opens up more critical data
An initiative of the Ministry of the Economy and Innovation will further increase the availability and use of reusable data. The changes, approved today by the Seimas, will help create new and develop existing electronic public services and products, as well as boost business development.
"Until now, businesses and citizens have only been able to download open data from a limited number of state and municipal companies, i.e. only those providing public services in areas such as gas, heat, water and transport. With the adoption of the amendments, data from all companies operating in Lithuania and providing other public services, such as INVEGA or LITEXPO, will soon be available. This will contribute to the development of the open data market in Lithuania, which could reach €125 million in 2025 and €285 million in 2026," said Aušrinė Armonaitė, the Minister of the Economy and Innovation.
The opening up of important data is set out in the Law on the Right to Information and Data Reuse. This law will apply to all 274 private limited companies and public limited companies owned by the state or municipalities as of 1 November this year. Their open data will be inventoried and published for re-use on the Lithuanian Open Data Portal.
"From November, open data users will be able to request the opening of company datasets on the Lithuanian Open Data Portal. This will ensure that data-based information can be used to create and develop digital content products and e-services. These changes will save up to €2.3 million from the state budget next year alone," said Erika Kuročkina, Deputy Minister of the Economy and Innovation.
The law also clarifies the provision on opening up high-value data sets. According to a regulation published by the European Commission, EU member states have until 9 June 2024 to open up high-value data.
High-value data are divided into 6 thematic categories: geospatial data, earth observation and environmental data, meteorological data, statistics, company and corporate governance data, mobility data.