The new open data portal Data.gov.gr, which aspires to become the central access point to public sector data in Greece for citizens, researchers, universities, businesses, and organisations, was presented today at the Ministry of Digital Governance.

The central message of the presentation was that open data is no longer a theoretical discussion about the future, but a critical tool for transparency, innovation, and development. It is not simply a technological infrastructure, but a new model of state operation — one that seeks to transform information into a public good, accessible to all, with the goal of boosting development, transparency, and innovation in the digital age.

The Minister of Digital Governance, Dimitris Papastergiou, described the presentation of the platform as a “very significant moment” for public administration and Greek digital policy, stressing that “there is no artificial intelligence without open data.” As he noted, Greece for years had a major gap in the area of open data, pointing out that “there was a black hole” regarding the availability and accessibility of public data.

He underlined that the project was not easy, as “it is difficult to convince the Greek public sector to open its data,” explaining that for decades there was no necessary culture of data utilisation and publication. “Open data is wealth and we must understand its value,” he said.

The Minister particularly emphasised the importance of data quality and updating, noting that the objective is not simply the accumulation of large volumes of information, but the existence of reliable, updated, and reusable data. As he said, these datasets can serve as a “foundation for new applications,” boosting innovation, startups, the academic community, and research activity.

Referring to the progress of the project, he called it a “necessary” step towards modern digital governance, noting that Greece had to close a significant gap compared to other European countries. He recalled that a few years ago there were only 80 datasets available, while today the new platform hosts 9,523 open datasets, 31,441 data resources, 22 data services, and 455 organisations.

During the event, reference was also made to the use of artificial intelligence in public services, with the Minister linking Data.gov.gr to the broader digital ecosystem being developed in the country. In this context, he also mentioned new digital infrastructure projects, noting characteristically that “Daedalus will soon start running,” referring to upcoming capabilities in artificial intelligence and data analysis.

At the same time, the Minister stressed the need for continuous cooperation with society, academia, and research institutions so that data can be effectively utilised and return value to citizens.

The Special Secretary for Artificial Intelligence and Data Governance, Vassilis Karkatzounis, described the project as a “collective effort” requiring the participation of all public sector bodies. Presenting the vision and mission of the new platform, he stressed that Data.gov.gr is now the central catalogue of open data of the Hellenic Republic, providing unified access to public sector data.

According to him, the platform is based on four main pillars: simple, transparent, and reliable access to public data; improved quality and reusability; strengthened innovation and evidence-based decision-making; and continuous improvement of the platform through cooperation with organisations, citizens, and businesses.

Particular emphasis was also placed on the institutional framework of the portal. Karkatzounis clarified that publishing open data is “not an option, but a legal obligation.” As he explained, the new philosophy of the state is based on the principle “open by default – closed only when there is a reason.”

“All data is published as open by default, unless there is a specific reason not to, such as personal data protection issues,” he said, adding that “the exception now requires justification” and that “the burden of proof has shifted.”

Significant attention was given to data quality. As highlighted, the new portal is not intended to function as a simple “file repository,” but as an organised data infrastructure with specific quality standards.

For this reason, every dataset included in the platform must meet criteria related to metadata completeness, regular updates, use of open formats, clear licensing, personal data protection, and interoperability.

The development of the platform was described as a “long journey” that began back in 2013. According to the data presented, in 2020 there were only 83 datasets from 28 organisations, while in 2025 the Special Secretariat for Artificial Intelligence and Data Governance was established to coordinate national strategy.

During the presentation, the key benefits of open data were also highlighted. As noted, access to public data strengthens transparency and democracy, as citizens gain the ability to scrutinise state action through real data. It also enhances trust in institutions.

A strong emphasis was placed on the economic dimension of the initiative. According to ministry officials, open data creates significant economic impact, as businesses and startups can use it to develop new products and services without data acquisition costs.

Benefits are also expected for the public sector itself, as centrally available data reduces bureaucracy and limits duplication of processes between agencies. Services will now be able to reuse existing data instead of recreating it, strengthening cooperation between ministries and organisations.

At the European level, integration with the EU portal data.europe.eu is expected to make Greek datasets visible and usable across Europe, strengthening Greece’s position in the European digital ecosystem.

Particular weight was also given to the environmental and social value of data, as information related to energy, environment, and climate can support policies linked to the green transition and sustainable development.

The Data.gov.gr portal already includes a wide range of thematic categories, including agriculture, fisheries, forestry and food; education; culture and sports; environment; health; justice and public safety; population and society; transport; economy and finance; energy; government and public sector; international affairs; regions and cities; science and technology; and artificial intelligence.

According to ministry officials, the platform’s development is part of Recovery Fund-financed projects, while the next major goal is to encourage even more public bodies to open their data and keep it continuously updated and of high quality.