HCAP creating an innovative Open Data distribution hub

HCAP is creating an innovative public-enterprise Open Data Hub as part of its central strategy for production, management and distribution of Open Data. In a significant move towards enhancing transparency and innovation, it will provide access to selected open data sets produced by the operation of its subsidiaries. These are mainly open data in the sectors of water supply and sewerage, transport and postal services, as well as food distribution, property management and other areas of activity.

The new hub will provide such important public enterprise data for the first time in Greece, via application programming interfaces (APIs), ensuring automated access. The hub, which will be launched in 2021, with the first datasets made available on a pilot basis, incorporates the standards and best international practices for the management, discovery, processing, secure storage, analysis, visualisation and presentation of data, as well as the secure application interface for the utilisation of data by interested stakeholders.

The publishing of open public enterprise data will, on the one hand, enhance participation, transparency and public control, and, on the other hand, promote research and innovation, as it will ensure that universities and research institutions, the industry as well as public and private organizations will have the necessary information and data to develop new value-added services that benefit society as a whole.

The hub is expected to provide, among others, datasets on water reservoir quantities, the production and consumption of drinking water, , fish sales at fish wharves across the country, pricing of fruit, vegetables and meat, circulation of vehicles in central market infrastructure, postal data (e.g. imports-exports of post items), data on transport infrastructure and service points (e.g. accessibility for disabled persons, ticket and transport cards’ sales points, bus stops).

“This is an important step in the digital transition,” noted Stefanos Giourelis, deputy CEO, underscoring that “open data is the raw material for research, knowledge and, ultimately, development. It is an invaluable asset that will no longer remain unutilized and is now being developed and made available for the benefit of society and the economy. This is why HCAP took the initiative to create this Open Data hub as a new chapter in the optimum development of public property, which is part of the broader national and European strategy.”

This is the beginning of a series of horizontal initiatives that HCAP will pursue in collaboration with its subsidiaries to promote exchange of knowledge and capitalize on synergies.