ODX Challenge:
Using open data to tackle complex problems with innovative solutions.
Dr. Kevin Tuer, Managing Director
Canada’s Open Data Exchange
Outline
• What is the ODX Challenge Series?
• What makes for a good Innovation Challenge?
• Case Study: The Guelph Civic Accelerator
– Stage-Gated Process
– Stakeholder Contributions
– Problems and Companies
Canada’s Open Data Exchange
codx.ca
What is the ODX Challenge Series?
A series of innovation challenges – stage-gated programs where ODX works with startups
and scale-ups to solve one or more well-defined sponsor problems involving open data.
•
A lead sponsor – generally, a municipal government – provides financial support and
staff time in exchange for having their problem solved
•
ODX leads the problem discovery, company recruiting, selection and evaluation process
•
Startups and scale-ups are invited to propose solutions to those problems
•
One or more finalists are selected to develop a proof of concept with pricing
At the conclusion of the challenge, the sponsor can choose to purchase none, any or all of
the solutions developed.
Canada’s Open Data Exchange
codx.ca
What makes for a good innovation challenge?
Impact: Challenge problems should be:
•
•
widely accepted as issues by potential entrants and the public at large, and
areas of potential investment by likely entrants
Ownership: Entrants own the intellectual property that they generate
Sustainability: Sponsor and winning entrants are obligated to support the
solution for some period of time
Support: ODX and sponsor(s) provide participants with access to data, staff,
business users, analysts, statisticians, data engineers and software
Canada’s Open Data Exchange
codx.ca
Stage-Gated Process
Objectives:
•
•
•
Tackle complex municipal problems with new, innovative solutions
Create applications, products and services that create jobs and wealth
Demonstrate that open data can catalyze private sector to solve problems in public sector
3 Months
Companies
Tools
Expertise
Problem
Areas
Sponsoring
Municipality
Data
Staff Time
Problem
Identification
Solution
Applicants
?
Finalists
Stakeholder Contributions
Sponsor (i.e. Municipality)
ODX
• Executive or Senior Staff Sponsor
• Program Toolkit
• Staff Time
• Program Management
• Mentoring
• Marketing & PR Support
(with local RIC, Incubator, Accelerator or Innovation Hub)
• IT Support
• Financial Contribution
• Readiness Assessment
• Problem Statement Development
• Company Sourcing via
If Outside Ontario
• Evaluation Process
• Legal Support
• Mentoring
Problems and Companies
Water:
How can Guelph Water Services enable
citizens to detect leaks and reduce their
water use?
Planning Notices:
How can we make it easier for the public
to provide feedback on planning
decisions?
Milieu
Alert Labs (alertlabs.com) is working with the
City of Guelph to offer an IoT sensor and
companion service to generate real-time
customer alerts for emergencies like floods or
leaks. The sensor requires no technical skill to
install.
Milieu Cities (milieu.io) is enhancing its SaaS
platform to include a web and mobile
application that connects citizens, urban
developers and City officials to collectively
work toward creative and evidence-based
planning decisions.