Open Data

Census-Led Prize Challenge Incentivizes Using Open Data for Good

Oct 8, 2021

The Open Data for Good Grand Challenge is welcoming submissions until October 24, 2021 from technologists and collaborators focused on deploying products with federal open data, as well as recruiting for qualified judges to score the submissions and help select winners!

The $310,000 challenge was launched this summer by the U.S. Census Bureau through The Opportunity Project (TOP), in collaboration with The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

In order to advance some of the most promising technology solutions built with open data, the Census Bureau and its collaborators have launched the Open Data for Good Grand Challenge, to help teams deploy their technology solutions, ensure they reach end users, and drive impact on the critical problems they were built to solve. These solutions address problems ranging from COVID-19 to reducing oceans plastics, to helping minority-businesses access capital.

Please view the full challenge rules on Challenge.gov for eligibility, and submission requirements and deadlines. We encourage your active involvement of entering the challenge, sharing this opportunity within your networks, or serving as a judge.

Apply to be a Judge!

The U.S. Census Bureau is seeking experts to judge the submissions and help us select the winners! We are specifically seeking experts in certain subject matter areas listed below, as well as technical product quality, open data, product implementation, and social impact. The process will take no more than 8-9 hours of your time during October and November. Sign up to be a judge.

Below are the requirements for judges:

  • Must have knowledge or experience in one or more of the following challenge categories:
    • Climate, Resilience, and the Natural Environment
    • Society, Economy, and the Built Environment
    • Health and COVID-19
  • Attend a one-hour training in October
  • Must be available to conduct reviews between November 1-9. Reviews can take place virtually and on your own time, but must be completed in this window.

Judges will evaluate submissions on the following five criteria:

  • Technical Quality
  • Cross-Sector Collaboration and Diversity
  • Use of Federal Open Data
  • Implementation + Sustainability
  • Impact

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