The UK based NESTA aims to encourage local authorities to release more public service information and data as linked data. NESTA calls upon digital agencies to come forward with ideas for new applications and approach their local authority to enter into NESTA's Make it Local program together.

There are three £30.000,- grants available for local authorities to work with a digital agency on creating a new applications. Entries can be made until August 20th. Winners will be announced on September 3rd, who then will have time until January 10th 2011, by which date the new applications must be live and available.

In their announcement of mid-July NESTA writes Make It Local is meant to boost digital community services. "Local authorities hold significant amounts of public data– such as transport, carbon emissions, population and crime data – which may help to power a range of useful, digital services. In brokering partnerships between local authorities and digital media businesses, NESTA wants to show the value to local authorities of releasing their data to developers who can make use of it."