Introducing DCAT-AP for high-value datasets: Enhancing data accessibility across Europe

We are excited to introduce the DCAT Application Profile for High-Value Datasets (DCAT-AP HVD), a new tool that makes it easier to find and use important public data across Europe. This user-friendly annex enhances the existing DCAT-AP framework, making public sector data more accessible and searchable across borders and sectors.

The DCAT-AP is a specification based on the Data Catalogue vocabulary (DCAT) and is crucial for describing public sector datasets in Europe. Its primary goal is to enable people to find data from different government portals easily, helping in better understanding and using this information for various purposes.

DCAT-AP HVD comes as a response to the High-Value Datasets Implementing Regulation (HVD IR), adopted by the European Commission in December 2022. This regulation highlights the growing importance of data, especially those considered high value. With DCAT-AP HVD, complying with these new regulations is straightforward, requiring little extra effort for users already familiar with DCAT-AP.

The development of DCAT-AP HVD involved extensive consultation and feedback from the public, including three webinars in early 2023, a draft release, and a review period. The insights gained during this process have been integrated into the final version of the annex, which is now available for use.

DCAT-AP HVD is not only compatible with the current DCAT-AP 2.2 but also with the upcoming DCAT-AP 3.0. It simplifies the implementation of the HVD IR and supports the search for datasets across different data portals, enhancing the discoverability and usability of public sector data in Europe.

Explore this new tool and its documentation here, and we invite you to take a look at the annex and leave any feedback on the DCAT-AP Issues section via the SEMIC GitHub page.

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