The Data Innovation Toolkit

The toolkit developed by the Digital Innovation Lab from the European Commission to help data enthusiasts effectively use data for the public good.

Despite the abundance of data, the excitement around AI, and the potential for transformative insights, many public administrations struggle to translate data into actionable strategies and innovations.

Public servants working with data-related initiatives, need practical, easy-to-use resources designed to enhance the management of data innovation initiatives.

In order to address these needs, the iLab of DG DIGIT from the European Commission is developing an initial set of practical tools designed to facilitate and enhance the implementation of data-driven initiatives.

The main building blocks of the first version of the of the Digital Innovation Toolkit include:

A Repository of educational materials and resources on the latest data innovation approaches from public sector, academia, NGOs and think tanks
An initial set of practical resources, some examples:

Checklists to ensure that all data journey aspects and steps are properly assessed.
Interactive Exercises to engage team members in hands-on activities that build skills and facilitate understanding of key concepts and methodologies.
Canvas Models to provide visual frameworks for planning and brainstorming.
Workshop Templates to offer structured formats for conducting productive workshops that foster collaboration, ideation, and problem-solving.

Our journey in the creation of the Data Innovation Toolkit

The development of the Data Innovation Toolkit is structured into a series of focused stages to ensure its effectiveness for public sector use.

Repository: literature review on existing content and user-friendly interface to navigate, access and filter a curated set of best practices and resources.
Interviews and workshops: gather direct feedback and refine the toolkit’s relevance and utility for its users.
Development of a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) & creation of an initial set of practical tools.
Usability tests and workshops to fine-tune its functionality and user-friendliness.