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The Umeå Open Data Climate Challenge is closed for applications from August 27 at 21:00 CET 2023

About the challenge

We are looking for innovative ideas and applications that use open data to drive and support climate action. Participants have the opportunity to show their work, gain recognition, win prizes and help drive climate action in and outside of Umeå. Participation is open to individuals and groups of all ages and backgrounds.

Why?

We who organize this realize that we must cooperate on climate change. Many good things are already happening, but more must happen if we are to accelerate climate change. It is a complex issue and you have to look at it all from several different angles. Maybe only you can find a solution that we wouldn't have thought of? New technology and new methods of communication could perhaps be part of the solution? We think that data, modeling and visualizations can play a big role in raising awareness and influencing climate change.
Data is available as open data at, among other places, opendata.umea.se, via dataportal.se and other sources with open data.

What are we looking for?

We are looking for solutions that use available data for analyses, applications, tools, maps, etc. to drive and promote climate action in some form. All data-based proposals with the potential to contribute to climate action are welcome.
The solution must promote climate actions within one of the following categories:

Mobility and transport

For example: Transport accounts for approximately half of all emissions in Umeå municipality today. How can data help us choose the most sustainable travel option?

Energy and the built environment

For example: What are the possibilities for visual representation of buildings' potential for renewable energy consumption/energy efficiency? Using existing premises has a greater positive climate impact than building new ones. Through the use of data, can we get a more efficient use of premises?

Consumption and circular economy

For example: Current consumption patterns are not sustainable, therefore these must be changed and the throwaway mentality changed. How can data help to e.g. improve recycling levels or reduce waste from households and businesses? How can data help encourage sectors to become more circular? Can we show how the transition to a circular economy will affect climate change?

Food and agriculture

For example: Production and consumption of food contributes to climate emissions locally as well as globally. Can data be used to influence food waste so that it decreases? Can data contribute to a transition to the consumption of food with a low climate impact?

Other contributions

Your contribution can help visualize or compare progress towards climate action targets within or outside of these themes. We are also interested in how open data can help us connect with and inspire action from our citizens and society. Can you drive climate action better if you combine official data with data collected from citizens?

What does the daily climate impact look like for a citizen, and how can data help us make climate-conscious decisions, e.g. when we shop, travel, eat and drink?

Where to find relevant data?

There are several different data sources to use, e.g. opendata.umea.se , slu.se and data that you find via dataportal.se and more.
You are welcome to use the data sources and maps that you know, but your contribution must use at least one dataset from opendata.umea.se
If you depend on data that is difficult to obtain, but Umeå municipality should be the information owner for it, state that in your application and we will try to help.

How to apply?

This challenge is open to individuals, teams and organizations of all ages and backgrounds. Applicants can also apply more than once with different ideas. Your contribution may involve creating something new, or developing an already existing initiative or application.
The application is made by filling in a form and it must contain the following:
- Which climate challenge does the idea contribute to solving
- In what way does it solve the problem
- Project Plan
- Team that will work on this
- Skills within the team
- What data will you use
- Do you need support, if so what type?

Applications closed on August 27 at 21:00 CET

How will your contribution be evaluated?

It is welcomed that you plan to use data from several different data sources, but one condition is that you use at least one data set from opendata.umea.se.
Once that condition is verified, each entry will be scored up to a maximum of 100 points as follows:
- Show usage of data including open data (max 25 p)
- Impact potential for the climate action (max 25 p)
- Feasibility of proposal/ realistic project plan/ applicant's ability (max 25 p)
- Originality/Innovation/Diversity (max 25 p)
A maximum of six entries will then be identified as final candidates. If no entry reaches 60 points, the challenge will be canceled and no entry will be a final candidate.

The Challenge timeline

Application closes August 27 at 21:00 CET
A jury group then scores all the entries in week 35. From the entries that received at least 60 points, the six with the highest scores are selected and these are designated as final candidates. If fewer than six entries receive more than 60 points, only these will move on.
Those who have become final candidates will have eight weeks, September - October, to implement their projects and develop and deliver their solution.
During these eight weeks, support will be offered by the organizers. All final candidates will be offered a meeting with one of Umeå Municipality's service designers at the beginning of these eight weeks
The jury then selects the prize winners. The evaluation is based on a short project report and a presentation of the final candidates' projects, both of which are provided by the final candidates themselves. It can be, for example, an application, website or a dashboard.
Award presentation webinar, where the winner is announced, takes place at the end of November.

Prizes

All projects that become final candidates and complete the challenge, i.e. deliver their project according to plan will receive a prize.
The organizers will make an assessment of the contributions regarding which is the most innovative, engaging and practical and prizes will then be awarded as below:
• First prize: SEK 50,000
• Second prize: SEK 30,000
• Third prize: SEK 20,000
• Other final candidates: SEK 10,000
In addition to recognition, prizes and an opportunity to contribute to climate action, participants can benefit from advice and feedback to develop their solutions.
There may also be an opportunity, but no obligation, for the Organizers to continue engaging with participants after the Challenge ends.

Who are the organizers?

This challenge is an initiative of Open Data Umeå, which is part of Umeå Municipality.

"Umecom is about exactly this, coming together to find new joint solutions to various social challenges. I hope the Umeå Open Data Climate Challenge becomes an annual recurring challenge that really makes a difference!"

"We see the consequences of climate change directly in our operations, as natural disaster and its effects account for a significant proportion of our industry's claims costs. In order to meet the challenges that climate change brings us, new ideas are needed. By supporting the Umeå Open Data Climate Challenge initiative, we hope to find both new technology and new ways of thinking that can help us along the way. The entire work of Umeå's Climate Action Plan is in line with our vision of creating a safer Västerbotten, says Göran Karmehag, CEO of Länsförsäkringar Västerbotten "

"This is not an easy challenge, but it is an important one and SLU would like to be involved and contribute, says Pernilla Christensen, vice dean at the Faculty of Forestry at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences."

Main organizers

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Co-organizers

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Collaborative partners

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