Interpellation Graf-Litscher (14.4194): Big Data. Potential and development prospects of the data economy in Switzerland.
Pending, discussion postponed (19.06.2015)
Submitted text
In the Open Government Data Strategy Switzerland 2014 – 2018, approved on April 16, 2014, the Federal Council outlined the importance of data as a resource: “Data are the raw material of the knowledge society. In the course of establishing an information infrastructure that is used around the clock by business, politics, science, education and culture, the volume of data is growing exponentially. Unlike material raw materials, data in information and knowledge production do not become scarce, but lead to new data, information, insights and services. They thus have lasting potential for creating added value.” Under the buzzword “Big Data,” the European Commission has announced a partnership with the data industry with an investment volume of 2.5 billion euros for the years 2016 to 2020 “to strengthen the data sector and give Europe a leading position in global data competition” (MM European Commission 10/13/14). The European Commission expects this project to create up to 30 percent of the global data market for European providers, 100,000 new jobs in the data sector by 2020, as well as 10 percent less energy consumption, a more efficient healthcare system, and other economic benefits.
The Federal Council is requested to answer the following questions with reference to Open and Big Data:
1. what efficiency and performance gains can be achieved through comprehensive and innovative use of data in the energy, transport, health and other sectors of the economy in Switzerland?
2) How is Switzerland positioning itself in the global data competition, what share of the global data market is targeted in the next five years, and how many new jobs can be created in the data economy during this period (until 2020)?
3 What accompanying measures, especially in research and education as well as in innovation promotion, can optimally support the development of a prosperous data economy in the coming years and secure Switzerland’s leading position in global data competition?
4. how is it ensured that the revenues from the data economy do not benefit just a few dominant companies, but society as a whole?
Statement of the Federal Council
Big Data is the collection and recording of large amounts of data and complex information from all sources. The amount of information available through Big Data offers new ways of gaining knowledge and opportunities for alternative business models. However, it also raises questions of data and information protection. Open Government Data (OGD), the data made freely available by government agencies, is part of Big Data. The federal government is also concerned with the issues surrounding Big Data, but as a big data producer, it is more active in the area of OGD at the moment. Therefore, the following answers focus primarily on this area.
1. big data and open (government) data enable innovative uses and a higher quality of services for many sectors of the economy. Increased efficiency and performance can already be achieved through faster and easier access to important data. The comprehensive data basis and the increased transparency also enable more efficient decisions. The study “Economic Impact of Open Government Data (OGD)” (http://www.egovernment.ch/umsetzung/00881/00883/01114/index.html?lang=de) estimates the potential value added by OGD in Switzerland at between CHF 0.9 billion and CHF 1.2 billion annually.
2 Switzerland is well placed to take a leading position in the global data economy. This is demonstrated, for example, by the fact that Switzerland ranks sixth among 148 countries in the WEF’s “Networked Readiness Index 2014”, which focuses on information and telecommunications technologies. Based on international estimates and on the value creation to be expected in Switzerland from the use of Open Government Data, several thousand jobs could be created in the data sector in the coming years. In addition, Switzerland has the opportunity to distinguish itself as a safe haven for legitimately collected data and to protect it from unlawful access, particularly due to its high level of legal certainty and reliable infrastructure.
3. on the federal side, the development of the data economy in Switzerland will be supported through the existing funding instruments for research and innovation as well as through the efforts to implement the Open Government Data Strategy Switzerland 2014 – 2018. In addition, the following activities are planned: The Federal Council is considering the launch of a National Research Program (NRP) on “Big Data and the Internet of Things” and has commissioned the Swiss National Science Foundation to prepare a corresponding proposal. In implementation of the Rechsteiner motion Paul 13.3841, the FDF will also set up a commission of experts on the future of data processing and data security, which will examine in particular the socio-political and economic aspects of Big Data. In addition, Switzerland can participate in the EU’s Horizon 2020 research framework program as a partially associated country and thereby also benefit from funding measures and international cooperation on the topic of Big Data. As part of the implementation of the Open Government Data Strategy-Switzerland, the Confederation intends to support the use of Open Data. Suitable tools should make it easier for users to understand the technical and content-related aspects of government data. Finally, by setting up the Open Data Portal Switzerland, the Federal Council is making an important contribution to a national data infrastructure.
4 The Federal Council is aware of its responsibility to counteract a possible socioeconomic asymmetry in the new data economy. With its Open Government Data Strategy-Switzerland, it has laid the foundations to contain the negative consequences of this development. By setting up an OGD portal, the Federal Council is ensuring that open, i.e. freely reusable, government data in Switzerland is made equally accessible to all and can thus be used by all, provided that publication does not violate applicable law (in particular data and information protection provisions). As part of the implementation evaluation of the Federal Council’s strategy for an information society in Switzerland, the Federal Council will examine by the end of the year what further need for action arises for the Confederation in the area of big data. In particular, it will be examined whether there is a need for action in the following areas: Data protection and the right to dispose of one’s own data (“my data”) as well as support for the development of a data infrastructure and promotion of expertise in the area of Big Data.