Key facts
Linked Data Service (LINDAS) is an IT service provided by the Swiss Federal Archives (SFA). The Confederation, the cantons and the communes can use LINDAS to link and publish freely available open government data (OGD). LINDAS enables machines to combine information from different sources. Authorities, businesses, academia and civil society can reuse and further process the published data without restriction. The SFA set up LINDAS between 2017 and 2020, at a cost of CHF 2.2 million. It has been in use since 2020. As part of the LINDAS next project, the SFA is currently renewing the platform from a technical and organisational perspective, at a cost of CHF 1.5 million.
The Swiss Federal Audit Office (SFAO) conducted an audit to determine whether LINDAS is sufficiently mature and established both strategically and operationally to enable coordinated, widespread and interoperable use throughout the Confederation.
550 000
Swiss francs annual operating costs – these are difficult to obtain
1,5
full-time equivalents – a small team cannot manage everything
13
of all Swiss authorities publish data with LINDAS
?
the benefits for offices and the general public are still underdeveloped
Main conclusions
-
Compatible with the federal government’s data strategies
The IT service offers opportunities for semantic networking, interoperability and a reduction in platform diversity.
-
Insufficiently anchored in SFA or OGD strategy
As a result, LINDAS tends to be overlooked and is struggling to gain traction.
-
Unclear benefits, demand and funding
The SFA cannot justify the use of LINDAS on economic grounds.
-
Is LINDAS correctly positioned in the SFA?
As a small office, the SFA is currently reaching its limits with the operation of LINDAS. LINDAS is being kept going with minimal resources. Strategy and product managementare neglected.