This operating model for data sharing describes the stages for data sharing and the obligations and recommendations that should be taken into consideration when sharing data. It provides examples of data sharing and best practices from organisations that have shared their data. 

The operating model is intended for public administration actors, in particular. It mainly focuses on sharing data as open data that is data anyone can use free of charge as long as the terms of use are observed.

This operating model is not an official recommendation, guideline or policy.

Helpful in the following situations:

• A representative of the organisation wishes to learn about data sharing as a new topic.
• An organisation intends to share data and needs instructions on how to proceed.
• An organisation has already shared data but wants to improve its processes and needs additional instructions and/or to hear about the experiences of other organisations.
• An organisation has already opened data and wants to share its best practices with others.

Operating model for data sharing in brief

The operating model was developed openly together with stakeholders and in cooperation with the Digital and Population Data Services Agency in 2021–2022 under the leadership of the Ministry of Finance’s Opening up and using public data project.

The following organisations also participated in content production: Statistics Finland, the City of Helsinki (Helsinki Region Infoshare: open data service), the State Treasury, Finnish Environment Institute, Finnish Meteorological Institute, National Land Survey of Finland, Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment and Open Knowledge Finland. Deloitte Consulting Oy supported the work. 

In this operating model, the terms data, information and dataset mean more or less the same thing even if, philosophically speaking, their meanings are different. For the purposes of everyday discussions, these distinctions are not particularly important, and defining concepts is not a goal in this context.

Also see eOppiva online training: Data Sharing – Benefits and Operating Methods Related to Public Data Sharing. The training is based on this operating model and is open to everyone.

Benefits, risks and costs method

As part of the data sharing model, a method for assessing the potential benefits, risks and costs of opening data was developed (BRC assessment method). Its purpose is to provide public administration organisations with an easy-to-use method for assessing the benefits, risks, costs and revenue associated with opening and sharing data.

Download the BRC assessment tool (Excel file, in Finnish)

Would you like to give feedback on the data sharing model?

Contact us by email at avoindata@dvv.fi and tell us about your development idea.
 We will develop the content based on the feedback.

The Digital and Population Data Services Agency aims to update the content of the operating model once a year. 

The latest version of the content was published in November 2022.

Referring to the operating model

Always acknowledge the source when you refer to the content and examples of this operating model. For example, you can refer to the content as follows:

Digital and Population Data Services Agency. 2022. Operating model for data sharing, (page). WWW document. Available at: https://www.avoindata.fi/en/operating-model. Referred to on [date].