Open Data Portals around Europe: Finland's Avoindata.fi driving open
data innovation
Avoindata.fi [https://www.avoindata.fi/en] is Finland's national open
data catalogue, developed by the Digital and Population Data Services
Agency [https://dvv.fi/en/individuals]. The platform provides access
to over 2,300 datasets across diverse categories, including regions
and cities
[https://www.avoindata.fi/data/en_GB/group/alueet-ja-kaupungit], and
science and technology
[https://www.avoindata.fi/data/en_GB/group/tiede-ja-teknologia]. Its
advanced search capabilities, including a map-based filter for
location-specific data, make it easy for users to find the information
they need. The portal also features a comprehensive user guide
[https://www.avoindata.fi/en/user-guide] explaining what open data is
and how to effectively find and use it. Additionally, 72 APIs
[https://www.avoindata.fi/data/en_GB/apiset] enable developers to
seamlessly integrate Finnish open data into their applications. 

The website highlights several case studies demonstrating the impact
of open data. For example, a trail map
[https://www.avoindata.fi/data/en_GB/showcase/trailmap-fi-palvelu]
allows users to discover Finland's best hiking routes, while the
“Autumn Foliage Live”
[https://www.avoindata.fi/data/en_GB/showcase/ruskavahti] tool
identifies the most scenic spots to visit during autumn. The
portal’s most popular dataset, which presents a collection of the
most common Finnish names
[https://www.avoindata.fi/data/en_GB/dataset/none], exemplifies how
data can both engage and provide valuable insights to users. These
examples illustrate the wide-ranging practical applications of open
data and encourage others to explore its potential.  

With multilingual support in Finnish, Swedish, and English,
avoindata.fi ensures accessibility for both local and international
audiences. The portal also promotes efficient data sharing by
providing a detailed operating model
[https://www.avoindata.fi/en/operating-model] with guidelines for
public sector bodies and other organisations. These guidelines ensure
that data is shared in a standardised manner, promoting collaboration,
and driving innovation across various sectors. 

Datasets from avoindata.fi are harvested by data.europa.eu and made
available on our open data portal
[https://data.europa.eu/data/catalogues/open-data-finland?locale=en].
This connection allows Finland’s data to reach a broader audience,
contributing to a unified European open data ecosystem.  

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Publication Date/Time
2025-01-03T09:00:00+00:00
Explore Finland's open data platform and its role in advancing
cross-border collaboration