NESTA launches new programme to help Scottish local authorities work with digital media developers
The National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts (NESTA) has today announced the launch of a new programme in Scotland to help local authorities work with digital media developers to create innovative, web-based services.
The ‘Make it Local Scotland’ project aims to help local authorities maximise use of the vast amounts of data they hold. NESTA has said that through the scheme ‘local authorities will have the chance to capitalise on the information they hold to develop entirely new digital services.’
NESTA will support up to four ideas from local authorities in Scotland for public data to be made ‘open’ and turned into new digital services to benefit local and national communities, with rewards of up to £25,000.
Jackie McKenzie, NESTA head of innovation programmes Scotland, said: “Scottish councils hold huge amounts of data that has the potential to transform the way we all relate to public services if only we could access and support it. Imagine what could be achieved by communities if local government data were released and made accessible to the public- simple ideas like which roads had been cleared of snow, where salt and shovels could be accessed by communities; which books are in our libraries and how we might even share our own books into that stock. We want to bring together digital media developers and pioneering local authorities to show what could be achieved.”