Oslo: 6 April 2010

The Norwegian Ministry of Government Administration, Reform and Church Affairs (FAD) has announced the Web 2.0 Boxes project.

Norway is making available 2.5 million Norwegian Kroner for projects bringing out the potential of social media, Web 2.0 technologies, voluntary web and open data. It is possible to apply for support / scholarships for amounts ranging from 10,000 to 250,000. Applications are accepted from NGOs, schools, universities, private individuals and companies. The successful projects need to be realised in the form of an active solution by the end of 2010.

In this excerpt from the FAD Web 2.0 Boxes web page the main thinking behind the contest is explained (approximate English translation) (Norwegian text online).

“The United States has "Apps for Democracy", UK "Show Us a Better Way", Australia has "Mashup Australia and Denmark have held the "Public Data in the Games competition". Now we want to test whether the Norway - a superpower in the Facebook sense - can take advantage of Web 2.0 technology and user created content, often confused with public data, the service development and innovation. Do you have an idea or a proposal for a service / website, and expertise to further develop this, but lack funding? If your idea can also contribute to increased value creation, democratic participation and openness - then you are creating a network that we want to hear further from you.”

• Competition Application Deadline is: 9 May 2010

Read more about the Competition Online (Norwegian text):

• Retningslinjer for Nettskap 2.0 (Guidelines for Electronic Cabinets 2.0)
• Søknadsskjema for Nettskap 2.0 (Application Form for Web 2.0 boxes)
• Spørsmål og svar om Nettskap 2.0 (Questions and Answers)

Olav Anders Øvrebø (on Vox Publica) has published a news item about Web 2.0 Boxes entitled: “Apps for Norge” (Apps for Norway). The news item describes the Norwegian FAD’s initiative and links to Olav’s previous reporting of the experiences of competitions held in other countries.

The text of this news announcement states (approximate English translation) (Norwegian Text online)

"Web 2.0 boxes" is what the Government Department (FAD) have called the initiative. The goal is to get the project ideas within the loosely bound together theme of web technology-sharing culture user created content. And models of other competitions have been held in countries such as Denmark, the UK and the U.S. over the last couple years (I've written about some of the experience).

The deadline is already 9 May. Plans call for the decision about who gets support / scholarships to be taken towards the end of June. Total frame is 2.5 million, a fairly generous amount that should suffice to finance a lot of good ideas. FAD envisions a support level on 100-150000 million per project, but allows for both smaller and larger awards.

In the guidelines FAD write more about what projects they want to encourage. These are the main goals:

• New services (innovation and value creation)
• Efficiency (value chains within and between enterprises)
• Democracy and transparency (democratic participation)

Otherwise, it is fairly broad criteria, and both private individuals, private and public entities can apply. This I think says a lot. Development of new digital services and tools that enhance value creation and democracy is in an exciting pioneering phase. Narrow criteria could lead to an unnecessary narrowing of the range of ideas.”

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