NOSAD - Network Open Source and Data

The Network for Open Source and Data (NOSAD) was launched in 2020 by civil servants from The Swedish Public Employment Service (SPES), Trafiklab, Samtrafiken, Digg, the Swedish Association of Local Authorities and Regions, and The Internet Foundation in Sweden. Sweden had a history of ranking near the bottom in the OECD's evaluation of digitalization, but initiatives like SPES’s open data platform, Jobtechdev, and the transportation sector equivalent, Trafiklab, had demonstrated significant progress in effectively utilizing open data. These accomplishments showcased Sweden's knowledge and capabilities, serving as a catalyst for the formation of NOSAD.

At its core, the initiative aimed to address a pressing issue: the need for a paradigm shift in the approach to data sharing and collaboration. The primary objective was to transition from isolated efforts to a collective ecosystem where sharing, collaboration, and openness become the norm. The initiative aimed to encourage proactive sharing, reuse, and collective contributions to strengthen digital growth and efficiency within Sweden. By promoting knowledge sharing concerning open data, open source, and open standards, the participating organizations aimed to drive innovation by leveraging existing knowledge, data, and insights.

The network now encompasses over 1000 individuals from approximately 300-400 organizations, mainly from the public sector, as well as civil society. "When various authorities and organizations engaged in conversations, we discovered numerous common challenges. These encompassed concerns about licenses, formats, standards, user engagement, progress assessment, and identifying appropriate metrics. This led to the idea of creating an operational forum for those grappling with these issues across different agencies—a space to network and exchange knowledge and experiences," says Maria Dalhage, Senior Project Manager at Jobtechdev (SPES) and one of the initiators of NOSAD. NOSAD is designed to empower and support public entities in enhancing the accessibility and effective utilization of open data and source code.

The initiative offers a comprehensive set of tools and resources aimed at fostering a culture of collaboration, innovation, and knowledge exchange. These tools include:

1. Monthly Digital Workshops: NOSAD conducts regular digital workshops on a monthly basis, providing a platform for knowledge sharing, discussions on best practices, and addressing challenges related to open data, open source, and open standards. The workshops are open to everyone, not limited to the public sector.
2. Discussion Forum on Sweden's Data Portal: The initiative hosts an active discussion forum on Sweden's data portal, serving as a hub for professionals to engage in meaningful discussions, seek advice, share insights, and collaborate on various topics related to open data, open standards, and open-source code.
3. Dedicated Website with Recordings and Recommended Readings: The website https://nosad.se maintains a dedicated section where participants can access a collection of workshop recordings and curated readings. This resource hub allows individuals to revisit workshop content, explore recommended resources, and deepen their understanding of open data and source code concepts.
4. Offentligkod.se: Repository of Open-Source Code: NOSAD curates Offentligkod.se, a repository that aggregates open-source code from various public organizations. This platform serves as a centralized catalog promoting the sharing of code, fostering transparency, and allowing organizations to gain insights and collaborate by leveraging and expanding upon each other's work.
5. Active Participation in the EU Commission's OSPO Network: NOSAD actively engages with the EU Commission's OSPO Network, collaborating on a broader scale to promote open source initiatives and advance the adoption of open data and source code practices across Europe.