Civil servants get more time to enter 2022 Data Challenge
The deadline for entries to the 2022 Civil Service Data Challenge has been extended to Friday 29 July to give officials extra time to submit their ideas.
The challenge, which is a collaboration between NTT DATA UK, the Cabinet Office, Global Government Forum, and the Office for National Statistics, is open for entries from UK civil servants on how the data government holds can be used to improve services.
Following feedback from civil servants, the entry deadline has been extended, giving officials some time after Parliament rises and the schools close to get ideas in.
Submit your idea here: https://www.datachallenge.uk/
The Challenge is looking for ideas on how government could make better use of data. All too often, the government fails to realise the potential of its vast data assets – and staff in all roles, grades, departments and agencies have the expertise and experience to identify improvements.
Once entries are submitted, an expert panel of judges will then review and select the eight most promising ideas to proceed to the next stage, which will examine their viability, as well as explore any challenges and the benefits of the proposals. These will be whittled down during a live semi-final event to four final ideas, before a grand finale where the judging panel will pick the best idea for further development. The winning team will benefit from the support of the programme’s judges, partners and sponsors, and the expert advice and technical prowess of NTT DATA UK.
The programme is also seeking volunteers to join the interdisciplinary, cross-departmental teams that will research and develop the most promising ideas. The best ideas will receive the backing of top civil service leaders, along with the support and resources required to carry them forward towards implementation. While providing participants with new skills, contacts and experiences, the challenge is designed to kick off change programmes that improve the tools used by public servants and the services delivered to citizens.
Read more: A license to think afresh: how the Data Challenge empowered civil service innovators
Last year’s winning team proposed the deployment of an AI solution to protect the UK’s peatlands. The idea edged ahead of its rivals in a closely contested final thanks to its potential to help lock more carbon into the ground, reduce flooding risk, and assist the government with achieving its carbon emissions targets. The project has potential to be scaled for application worldwide, which helped to win over the judges. However, due to the impressive nature of all the finalists’ proposals, NTT DATA UK has continued to work with all of the teams to help ensure their ideas are brought to life. You can get involved here: https://www.datachallenge.uk/
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About Richard Johnstone
Richard Johnstone is the executive editor of Global Government Forum, where he helps to produce editorial analysis and insight for the title’s audience of public servants around the world. Before joining GGF, he spent nearly five years at UK-based title Civil Service World, latterly as acting editor, and has worked in public policy journalism throughout his career.
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