the Public Sector Information Re-use revolution #psi #opendata
Date: Tuesday 05 June
Venue: European Parliament, Place de Luxembourg, Brussels.
Some of the most progressive minds in Public Sector Information Re-use will come together in the European Parliament for a full day of high level deliberation.
Richard Swetenham, Head of Unit, European Commission
Ivailo Kalfin MEP, Rapporteur on PSI Directive
Salvador Sedó i Alabart MEP (EPP), Shadow rapporteur on PSI Directive
Rolf Nordqvist, PSI Alliance Chairman
Marc de Vries, ePSI Platform
Dave Lovell, Executive Director, Eurogeographics
Joakim Skog, Bisnode
Michael Nicholson, Founder, Intelligent Addressing
Nikolaus Futter, Managing Director, Compass Verlag
Emilio Garcia, Proyecto Aporta and me…..
Christian Lister, Chairman, IPSA
The European Commission and the private sector have for many years worked hand in hand to build a framework.
[The Council and the European Parliament have adopted The Directive on the re-use of public sector information (PDF file; EN language) which deals with the way public sector bodies should enhance re-use of their information resources (the Directive 2003/98/EC of 17 November 2003 was published in the Official Journal (L345/90) on 31 December 2003)]
The last time I openly spoke on PSI, I took to the stage at the ePSIplus Competition Authorities Thematic Meeting 11 November 2008 (Berlin, Germany) Bundeswirtschaftsministerium (Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology).
I delivered to the internationally gathered attendees what was to become my final standpoint on the UK Government PSI position and what policy makers and indeed private enterprise (small business) had to do in order to succeed –
It is no use saying, ‘We are doing our best.’
You have got to succeed in doing what is necessary.
I had of course borrowed the quote from Sir Winston Leonard Spencer-Churchill, KG, OM, CH, TD, PC, DL, FRS, Hon. RA (30 November 1874 – 24 January 1965) was a British Conservative politician and statesman known for his leadership of the United Kingdom during the Second World War.
The years have rolled by since Berlin (and Helsinki, Athens, Madrid, Florence, Rome, Amsterdam, Copenhagen, Sweden, Geneva and London)
And I am still as passionate about #psi and #opendata today, the battle with UK Government has been a long arduous affair which when the day of recogning comes, winners and losers from all sides will be counted. Just like a war.
In the mean time it is delightful to see fresh Government inititives accounced only recently data.gov.uk and the re-use ideals being pushed by Sir Tim Berners-Lee for London (and hopefully in centres across the UK).
It proves that the while we are still entrenched in the ‘battle’ UK Government is already taking steps to ensure history will not repeat itself and access to data will be available to everyone to build apps, or start a business based upon data re-use
The question is how far have the EU member states come on this journey? And have the key players done enough to convince the European Commission we, as an industry are a ‘winning horse’ and will provide financial benefits and consumer benefits for all.
I can’t openly show you what I will be saying on the podium in the Place de Luxembourg on Tuesday but I can highlight the benefits of #psi and #opendata to you.
X-Press Legal Services – a leading provider of property related data across England and Wales successfully launched as a national franchise with over 45 offices, was built open public sector information re-use. The business, a Lister family-owned operation has been at the very forefront of the PSI Government battle since its formation 13 years ago.
X-Press along with other companies like the IPSA membership have enabled the conveyancing process (buying or selling a house) to reduce substantially in time while enabling solicitors and bank lenders to enjoy a wealth of extra high quality data (previously not available) to enable the decision process for the purchaser, seller and developer to be substantially more informative while mitigating risk for the legal and banking professions.
The Professional Search Industry should have been hailed as a #PSI and #opendata marvel many years ago – and shame on the Government for not embracing it.
The benefits are clear but what about the value?
I will highlight the ‘value’ of companies like X-Press who trade in #psi and #opendata, apart from the regional economic benefits of employment and trade which boosts the economy (and HM Treasury coffers).
Two fairly recent company acquisitions within the industry highlight the ‘value’ very well.
GroundSure – recently acquired by Emap for £44 million
So we have the financial benefits and we have the consumer benefits the European Commission wanted to see. We have the new entrepreneurial start-ups and small business growing, evolving and becoming big businesses.
WINS for everybody! hurrah! hurrah!
Private Industry even in the face
of Government adversity triumphed !
All we need now is a positive PSI directive review containing the items the ‘progressive minds’ wanted and I believe Tuesday could be the day.
I wonder if the UK Government will revive plans to ‘cut in on the action’ and reap extra revenues by becoming a psi and opendata reseller – I’ve said it before and I will say it again – it is not the business of Government to do business.
Christian Lister
The SME Ambassador
SMEambassador 
Thank you for this thorough article! I think it’s greatly accurate. The power of the Internet these days is truly a crucial tool for both companies and individuals.