The Ministry of Digital Affairs (MODA) held the "Empowering with Data, Innovating for Sustainability — 2024 Government Open Data Awards" on March 10 at the Fubon International Conference Center. The event recognized government agencies' outstanding achievements in open data initiatives and innovative applications. Deputy Premier of Executive Yuan Li-chiun Cheng complimented the agencies for improving data quality and advancing data-driven applications.

In her remarks, Deputy Premier Cheng emphasized that data drives digital technology advancement and national development. She noted that open data is the foundation of innovative government services. Through collaboration with industries, academia, and other sectors, government data can be transformed into high-value services that enhance innovative governance and strengthen Taiwan's global competitiveness. Cheng highlighted that under the "Smart Nation 2.0" initiative, the Executive Yuan is committed to making data a key driver of the innovative economy and smart governance. This initiative focuses on four priorities to support evidence-based policymaking, namely, legal framework adaptation, data openness enhancement, cross-sector collaboration, and Taiwan's Sovereign AI training dataset establishment to empower both the private sector and academia to fully utilize government data, improve public services, and steer industrial growth.

Minister Yennun Huang noted that open data has become a cornerstone for AI development. He pointed out the significant role of high-quality government data in supporting applications across transportation, healthcare, climate prediction, and social welfare. Minister Huang added that advancing these areas will drive the data economy, promote smart government, and increase public value and convenience for the citizens.

The Ministry also highlighted that with the rapid advancement of AI and data technologies, Taiwan's open data initiatives have entered a critical stage focused on more profound and practical applications. Government agencies are not only providing high-quality datasets but also actively promoting cross-sector applications. The government's open data platform currently features over 50,000 datasets covering a wide range of topics, including languages, history, geography, biodiversity, and the Taiwan Cultural Memory Book. MODA plans to prioritize the release of Chinese-language datasets, including policy plans, government reports, and government publications, to ensure that Taiwan's AI development reflects local language and cultural identity.

At the awards ceremony, Deputy Premier Cheng and Minister Huang presented the "Open Data Gold Award" and the "Open Data Popularity Award" to agencies that have demonstrated outstanding contributions to open data and innovative applications. The winning projects showcased how open data can promote policy transparency and drive innovation across energy, labor markets, and innovative city development.

The "Open Data Gold Award " recognized the Ministry of Economic Affairs for enhancing transparency in energy policy by releasing annual power generation data. The Ministry of Labor was honored for making occupational safety and labor market data available, helping businesses improve working conditions, and providing job seekers with better access to market information. Local governments like Taipei City and Taichung City were acknowledged for using transportation, geographic, and public facility data to advance innovative city initiatives and improve citizens' quality of life.

With regard to the "Open Data Popularity Award," the Ministry of Environment was recognized for real-time Air Quality Index (AQI) monitoring, which provides the public with timely updates and health advisories. The Taichung City Government was awarded for releasing detailed topographic maps and orthophotos, supporting more accurate urban planning and disaster prevention. The National Health Insurance Administration was honored for its pharmacy data project, which enhances pharmaceutical supply chain management and helps citizens access healthcare resources promptly.

The event also featured a presentation by the award-winning "Street Doctor" team from the Presidential Hackathon. The team shared how they combined open data and AI technology with public-private collaboration to develop solutions for cities' walking environments and promote more livable urban environments.

The Ministry concluded by emphasizing that open data is not just a government policy but a collaborative journey between the public sector and society. The Ministry will continue to deepen open data applications and integrate AI technologies, making government open data a key driving force for social progress and digital innovation.