
Innovation
Data created for one research purpose may be re-invented or re-interpreted for future unrelated research. Data sharing and re-use across borders and disciplines can also promote innovation by potential new data uses.
Many see 'Open data' as an engine for innovation - the idea that "certain data should be freely available to everyone to use and republish as they wish, without restrictions from copyright, patents or other mechanisms of control. " (Wikipedia)
Open data advocates are interested in harnessing new technologies for combining, analysing and visualising data often in web environments, to create new forms of data or knowledge.
"The coolest thing to do with your data will be thought of by someone else.”- Rufus Pollock, Cambridge University and Open Knowledge Foundation