Regional Open Data Challenge 2024
Join a unique initiative that recognises, awards and promotes
the innovative reuse of open data for a greener, more inclusive, and digital future!
Regional Open Data Challenge 2024 (RODC 2024) is a joint initiative of ReSPA and the United Nations Development Programme Serbia (UNDP Serbia) that promotes and recognises efforts in public administration in publishing open data and promoting the use of open data.
RODC 2024 aims to recognise, award, and promote the innovative reuse of open data across ReSPA Members - Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia - for greater transparency, accountability, inclusiveness and effectiveness in service delivery and design. The ultimate goal is to encourage collaboration between the government, CSOs, academia, and the private sector in delivering data-driven innovation that improves public services, empowers citizens or boosts economic activities.
Calling all innovators to develop groundbreaking mobile or web applications – whether it is a solution or just a brilliant idea – harnessing the power of open datasets published by public sector bodies across ReSPA Members: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia, and win valuable awards!
In developing solutions or suggesting ideas, participants must use at least one set of open data from the open data portals[1] of ReSPA Members’ administrations. The additional data in the reusable format (example: excel sheets) can be used from any other publicly available dataset(s): i.e. data from statistical offices, other public administration institutions, and data.europa.eu that refer to the Members.
Solutions must be developed under an open licence (GPL, Creative Commons or similar), publicly available and currently or potentially replicable in other environments (s), i.e. local, entity or state level.
Throughout the challenge, while developing ideas, participants will have mentorship, access to various data sources, and the opportunity to present the solutions to credible assessors for review and examination.
NOTE: Following the Info Session on 26th March, the above sentence from the call has been updated:
The condition for participation is that at least one set of open data from open data portals of ReSPA Members administrations is used, or one set of open data from website of any public administration institution of ReSPA Members administrations (in case where that dataset is not available on the national open data portal).
[1] Open data portals in the ReSPA administrations are on the following links:
The following categories are eligible to apply: companies, civil society organisations/foundations, science and research facilities, and individuals/groups of individuals (the contract will be signed by the leader of the team).
Legal entities and individuals registered or residing in the participating economies – Members are eligible to apply.
A team can be composed of one or more individuals (up to 4), one or more companies (up to 4) or one or more other legal entities (up to 4).
The competition is not open to staff working in public sector bodies across ReSPA Members' institutions.
Teams can be composed of persons under the age of 18. If that is the case, a written consent of the parents is required.
The competition consists of four challenges. Each challenge is organised as a separate competition of equal importance. Applicants may participate in any or all of the following challenges:
Challenge 1: Mobility and Transportation Data
Create a solution or suggest an idea that can be utilised to develop smart and sustainable transportation models.
It can be more efficient travel patterns, identification of areas with alternative modes of transport such as public transport – cycling or walking, real-time information on workable routes in ReSPA Members (or on waiting time at border crossings), identification of electric-vehicle charging stations, bicycle or car-sharing schemes, or green freight initiatives.
Combine at least one dataset from open data portals within one or more reSPA Members with any other publicly available dataset(s) in the ReSPA Members.
Challenge 2: Workforce mobility
Create a solution or suggest an idea for a “digital skills passport” that helps young individuals make well-informed career decisions by showcasing a detailed profile of their skills, experiences, and achievements. Include a feature that offers real-time insights into labour market data, highlighting the demand for specific skills, emerging industries, and current job trends.
The ultimate goal is to bridge the gap between youth and employers and empower youth by developing solutions that will provide real-time information for informed career decisions (by facilitating skill development, job matching, and career advancement, including real-time information on temporary employment in the region and the EU, “work and travel schemes” or internships).
Combine at least one dataset from open data portals within one or more reSPA Members with any other publicly available dataset(s) in the ReSPA Members.
Challenge 3: Tourism Atlas
Design a smart travel planner that allows travellers to enjoy a personalised and enriched travel experience by choosing current events at the destination per their interest. Use machine learning algorithms to propose personalised itineraries based on data and user feedback, encouraging the local community to join and share their insights.
It can be a solution or an idea that provides information on accommodation, transportation, and activities or implement a safety feature that provides real-time updates on local safety conditions and emergency contact information (including an SOS button for immediate assistance). Additionally, the solution can encourage local communities and travellers to actively share information or contribute to promoting sustainable tourism practices.
Combine at least one dataset from open data portals within one or more reSPA Members with any other publicly available dataset(s) in the ReSPA Members.
Challenge 4: Demographic trends
Create a solution or suggest an idea that provides valuable insights into the reasons for migration and its impact on population distribution, and assess the social and economic implications of demographic trends (by offering insights into population dynamics, migration patterns, and other demographic factors that can assist policymakers, researchers, and the public understand and respond to evolving demographic landscapes).
The solution/idea can aggregate and visualise crucial demographic indicators such as population size, age distribution, birth rates, mortality rates, and migration patterns or include a migration tracker that visually represents the movement of people within the region and beyond.
Combine at least one dataset from open data portals within one or more reSPA Members with any other publicly available dataset(s) in the ReSPA Members.
All the above proposals for the solution are indicative illustrations. Participants are encouraged to create innovative proposals beyond this list while staying in the relevant thematic area.
Proposals need to refer to and create benefits for the participating economies.
The application should include the following documents:
- Application form (named after the name of the application team in the following form “Application form_name of the team)
- CVs (in a free form) of all the members of the team
- Certificate of registration of legal entity
The deadline for submission of the applications is 3rd May 2024, by 23:59 CET. Applications should be sent to email datachallenge.rs@undp.org
Late applications will not be received and considered. It is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure the technical conditions for the application to be delivered on time.
| Milestones | Deadlines | |
|---|---|---|
| 18 March | Competition launch The rules of competition are published on the ReSPA and UNDP website |
|
26 March at 10 AM |
Info session Link for access (prior registration is mandatory): https://undp.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_xtFL8PLwR3yio-WlrtbXIg |
|
| Submit your proposal Participants enter the competition by sending the application documents, where they outline their idea: a short description of the proposed solution, target audience, open datasets to be used, etc. |
3rd May by 23:59 CET |
|
| 8 May – 17 May | Evaluation of the submitted proposals | |
| 27 – 30 May | Pitch "phase" Selected finalists (up to three in each challenge) pitch their ideas to the selection jury |
|
| 31 May | Selection results announced The selection phase is concluded and all participants are notified. The winners are announced on the ReSPA and UNDP websites, and they start developing their ideas into the solution if envisaged. Finetuning with Mentors in preparing for presentations and final submissions, offering guidance on effectively communicating their findings and insights. |
|
| July | ReSPA Digital transformation Seasonal School - Winning ideas promoted |
Beginning of the month (TBD) |
| Submit the final solution The winners submit their solutions via email. |
19 July by 23:59 CET |
UNDP Serbia shall perform an eligibility check upon receipt of the application. During the evaluation, an internal jury will assess each submitted application/idea against the selection criteria (table below) and grade all competing participants based on the agreement reached by consensus. Up to three applications/ideas scoring the highest points (top 3 per challenge) are selected to pitch to the jury for each challenge. Both "idea" and "prototype/solution" applications will be assessed against the same selection criteria.
Selection criteria |
Maximum number of points |
Relevance to the selected challenge
|
20 |
Relevance to a specific problem or need
|
20 |
Relevance of proposed data sources
|
20 |
Effective/usable and impactful relevance:
|
20 |
Potential and creativity of the proposed idea
|
20 |
The UNDP Serbia shall fund the prizes.
The total award fund for the competition amounts to USD 20,000 and will be split in the following order.
Place |
Award for the prototype/solution |
1 |
USD 9 000 |
2 |
USD 5 000 |
3 |
USD 3 000 |
USD 1 000 each |
Additionally, the prize will be given to the top 3 applications in the category of the "idea". In this category, each idea will receive USD 1000.
- Choose a short, meaningful, and catchy name for your team.
- The organisers can support participants in choosing the proper challenge.
- Reserve the time to attend the info session and find all the relevant information regarding the public call (recording will be available on the UNDP YouTube and ReSPA YouTube channels after the info session).
Clarifications
Participants may request any clarification up to three (3) working days before the closing date for submitting proposals. Requests for clarification should be submitted in writing to the following email address: datachallenge.rs@undp.org
Payment of awards
The payments of awards are subject to submitting the agreed deliverables. All awarded applicants will sign an agreement with UNDP. Templates of the agreements are available on this link for company (to be applied to companies, civil society organisation/foundations, science and research facilities) and on this link for individual.
Cancellation of the competition
UNDP and ReSPA reserve the right to cancel the competition before the competition finals without any obligation to indemnify the applicants.
Intellectual property and copyright
Winners of the RODC 2024 will sign an agreement with UNDP, which shall be entitled to all intellectual property and other proprietary rights including, but not limited to, patents, copyrights, and trademarks, concerning products, processes, inventions, ideas, know-how, or documents and other materials which the winner has developed for UNDP under the agreement and which bear a direct relation to or are produced or prepared or collected in consequence of, or during the course of, the performance of the agreement.
UNDP will grant all winners a worldwide, non-exclusive, non-transferable, and royalty-free license to use the intellectual property or other proprietary rights arising from the activities under the Project. "Use" shall mean the ability to use, reproduce, sub-license, distribute and communicate products incorporating said proprietary rights for non-commercial purposes and exclusively on a non-profit basis.
Applicants are encouraged to consult the agreement template (link) for all other intellectual property and copyright-related details.
Participants acknowledge and agree that the judges may review, evaluate, and test their submissions to select winners and assess compliance with the RODC 2024 rules.
Participants are responsible for ensuring their submissions do not infringe on third parties' intellectual property rights and copyrights. Any third-party content included in a submission must be properly attributed, and participants must have the necessary permissions to use such content.
Publicity
Consent for Publicity
By participating in RODC 2024 participants grant the hosts of the RODC 2024, the right to use their names, likenesses, images, and biographical information for promotional and publicity purposes related to the RODC 2024. This includes, but is not limited to, announcements, press releases, social media posts, and promotional materials.
Participants acknowledge that their submissions, including project names, descriptions, and visuals, may be featured on the ReSPA and UNDP websites, social media accounts, newsletters, and other promotional channels to showcase the RODC 2024 and its outcomes.
The media may contact participants for interviews, quotes, or other requests related to their participation in the RODC 2024. ReSPA and UNDP may facilitate and coordinate media requests on behalf of the participants, but it is ultimately the participant's decision to participate in such media activities.
Participants should avoid including confidential or sensitive information in their submissions.
ReSPA and UNDP will collaborate with third parties for promotional activities related to the WBODC 2024. Participants understand and agree that their information and submissions may be shared with such third parties for promotional purposes.
Processing of personal data
By participating in RODC 2024, participants acknowledge and consent to the collection, processing, and use of their personal data by the hosts of the RODC 2024. Personal data may include, but is not limited to, names, email addresses, affiliations, and other information provided during the application process.
Personal data will be processed to administer and organise the RODC 2024, including participant communication, judging, and awarding prizes. ReSPA and UNDP will not use personal data for any purpose beyond the scope of the RODC 2024 without explicit consent.
ReSPA and UNDP will take reasonable measures to ensure the security and confidentiality of personal data. Access to personal data will be restricted to authorized personnel administering the RODC 2024.
Personal data may be shared solely with third parties involved in the RODC 2024, such as judges, mentors, or collaborators, to organize and promote the RODC 2024.
Q1: If the applicant is a business company, which supporting documents should we present?
A: The application should include the following documents:
- Application form (named after the name of the application team in the following form “Application form name of the team), available at the link https://www.undp.org/sr/node/453091
- CVs (in a free form) of all the members of the team
- Certificate of registration of legal entity or copy of the registration document, in case where the applicant is a legal entity
Q2: Could we combine organisations from different ReSPA Members, e.g., a company from Serbia and Montenegro, to apply jointly to the RODC 2024?
A: The RODC2024 team encourages companies, civil society organizations/foundations, science and research facilities, and individuals/groups of individuals to come together at the regional level and submit applications. However, it is not mandatory to do so, and it is not a condition for application.
Please note that if you opt for a "regional approach" when applying, wherein entities from different ReSPA Members collaborate, the RODC Team encourages you to propose an idea or solution that can be replicated for the benefit of other ReSPA Members in the region.
Q3: Can we provide the Certificate of registration of a legal entity in the local language or English?
A: The application form must be submitted in English, along with the CVs of the team members, but the certificate of registration of a legal entity can be submitted in the local language.
NOTE: When completing the application form, please ensure that you fill it out in its entirety, including all required sections. Incomplete applications will not be accepted.
Q4: In the Application form it is stated that it can be applied with Solution and with Idea. Can you clarify with an example what the difference is?
Applicants in both categories, IDEA and SOLUTION, submit the same application form. The application form is available here: https://www.undp.org/sr/node/453091
If you submit an IDEA, please ensure it's realistic and feasible for development, even if you're not responsible for its implementation. Applicants in the category “IDEA” are not responsible for development of the idea, and once the winners are announced, the competition ends for these applicants.
If you submit a SOLUTION, please consider its practical development, bearing in mind that award funds will be transferred upon successfully completing the solution. Applicants in this category will be responsible for the development of their idea into a concrete solution.
Additionally, please note that all successful applicants, in both categories, will be required to enter into an agreement with UNDP, transferring their idea/solution to UNDP Templates for these agreements are available here for companies (applicable to companies, civil society organizations/foundations, and science and research facilities) and here for individuals.
Q5: If we want to make solution, should it be developed for all countries of not. More precisely, used data should include data for all countries or just for one e.g. Serbia?
A: We encourage all applicants to consider a "regional" approach when applying, but it is not a condition. However, please remember that the solution should be replicable for other ReSPA Members, benefiting the entire region.
Q6: If there is no open data available on portals in ReSPA Members that is relevant to my proposal, is it still possible to obtain useful information for analysis and decision-making by using outsourced open data? Additionally, we must utilize one ReSPA’s open data portals by default?
Answer: The condition for participation is that at least one set of open data from open data portals[1] of ReSPA Members administrations is used, or one set of open data from the website of any public administration institution of ReSPA Members administrations (in case where that dataset is not available on the national open data portal).
This change is also added to the text of the Public call.
Q7: Regarding the data, can we use statistical data from the State statistical offices from Western Balkans? Also, is it allowed to use Eurostat data?
A: Applicants can use statistical data from one ReSPA Member, but they need to ensure that at least one official open data set is used (either from the open data portal of any ReSPA Member or from the website of any public institution in any ReSPA Member). It’s important to note that not all statistical data is available in open data form, and in those cases it can be used as additional dataset.
Q8: Can we try to apply data which are registered in other software such as Excell so we can put it for data entry on the website?
A: YES, if those data are open / published.
Q9: Is there a possibility to merge challenges when applying? For example the second and fourth challenges? One solution for both?
A: YES, although each challenge is treated as a separate one, it is possible and more than welcome to merge challenges.
Q10: Is it possible that the data we want to use can be requested to another department of our country related of course of the topics of the web or the app?
A: RODC 2024 team encourage you to advocate for opening data, especially those you need for the application on the RODC 2024. YES, you can use data opened upon your request by another department/public institution if you can ensure that those data can be published by this department/institution and thus be relevant for the public and other candidates as well.
Q11: Is it possible to use data that is public but not currently available on the internet, for technical reasons? This data can be obtained by anyone, but upon request.
A: YES, although the condition for participation is that the condition for participation is that at least one set of open data from open data portals of ReSPA Members administrations is used, or one set of open data from the website of any public administration institution of ReSPA Members administrations (in case where that dataset is not available on the national open data portal), you can use a set of open data obtained upon request.
[1] Open data portals in the ReSPA administrations are on the following links: