Do you want to explore how open data can support better governance in rural areas and help policymakers respond to local needs beyond the city? Join us for the upcoming data.europa academy webinar on 'Open data as a public good: evidence-based development across territories' taking place on Friday, 13 March 2026, from 10.00 to 11.30 CET.

In celebration of this year’sOpen Data Day, this webinar explores how open data can inform governance decisions related to rural areas. By spotlighting practical examples from the UK and Ireland, the session will demonstrate how openly available information helps public administrations better understand local needs and ensure access to essential services. 

During the webinar, Johanna Walker, a researcher at King’s College London, will examine how the prioritisation of urban data impacts the collection, availability, and use of data in rural contexts. The second use case, the Irish social gradient tool Pobal, will be introduced by Patrick Collins. As principal data scientist for this initiative, he will explain how it leverages open data to identify geography-based health inequalities in Ireland. The webinar will wrap up with an interactive Q&A session, allowing you to engage directly with the speakers. 

After registering, you will receive an email with a calendar invite and webinar link. This webinar is part of the ‘What is the value of open data?’ course offered by the data.europa academy and will be recorded for future access.