News 6 Oct 2016

Statistics Finland starts big data cooperation with Statistics Netherlands

Statistics Finland and Statistics Netherlands CBS have agreed on cooperation for developing big data technology to benefit statistics production.

"The aim of cooperation between statistical offices is to find new sources of big data with which new indicators can be developed to describe social and economic conditions. It is also of key importance to develop new methods for analysing, combining and visualising big data," says Timo Koskimäki, Statistics Finland's Deputy Director General of Statistics Production. 

"The utilisation of big data offers new opportunities for developing statistics and statistical production processes. However, there are challenges in using big data for statistics production, such as maintaining data security. The observance of data security and data protection is one of the basic principles of official production of statistics. When using new technologies and materials, it must be made absolutely sure that no person's or enterprise's data protection is endangered. These challenges are best solved with international cooperation," says Mr Koskimäki. 

The cooperation between Statistics Finland and Statistics Netherlands is part of CBS's extensive big data initiative involving statistical offices, universities and other international organisations, such as Eurostat and the World Bank.

Further information: Timo Koskimäki, Deputy Director General of Statistics Production, tel. +358 29 551 3495