Innovation at Statistics Netherlands

Hank Hermans

Prepared by Barteld Braaksma, Maarten Emons, Nico Heerschap, Marko Roos and Marleen Verbruggen

 The Innovation programme and the Innovation Lab  Two examples in the area of data collection

Why an innovation programme?

External pressure (new output channels.

cooperation) Technological challenges (big data, social media) Internal ideas (empowerment; synergies)

How does the programme work(1/2)?

Road map for innovation tracks

1.

Rough idea 2.

3.

Enriched idea Find sponsor 4.

5.

6.

Concrete proposal Proof of Concept Implementation Not starting from methodology (theory) But from idea for application (practice)

The best way of having a good idea is having a lot of ideas

How does the programme work(2/2)?

• • • • • • Innovation program supports and facilitates tracks Survival of the fittest (accept failure) # ideas > # PoCs > # implementations Resources from initiator, sponsor, methodology, IT Collaboration with external partners Strong support from top management Light management and limited paperwork (‘just do it’)

The Innovation lab

Heerlen

Opening May2012

- Elaborating ideas - Brainstorming - Workshops - Open IT-environment - Communication facilities

The Hague

Internet as a Data Source (example 1/2)

 Many opportunities  Price statistics  Job vacancies  C2C (EBay)  But important issues • Quality • Methodology • Legal aspects Job vacancies from internet robots and quarterly statistics compared

%

45 40 35 30 25 20 15 10 5 0 Elementary Primary Secondary Higher University Internet CBS Unknown

Smartphones (example 2/2)

 Promising applications • • • Tracking smartphone use Combination with GPS data Short pop-up questionnaires  Challenges • Recruitment of participants (privacy!) • Power consumption • Methodological issues

What are our experiences so far?

• • • Innovation programme works (30 ideas first half of 2012) Many non-statistical issues show up (legal aspects, IT requirements) New sources come with new challenges (methodology, recruitment, robustness)