Innovation at
Statistics Netherlands
Marleen Verbruggen
Barteld Braaksma
Content
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Drivers for innovation
How the innovation programme works
Jugaad innovation
Examples of innovation tracks
‐ Input: Data collection with tablets
‐ Output: Infographics
‐ Throughput: Big data
– Concluding remarks
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Drivers for innovation
Technological challenges
• Big data
• Mobile devices
Internal ideas
• Empowerment
• Synergies
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External pressure
• New output channels
• Cooperation
How the programme works
Innovation funnel
“The best way of having a good idea is having a lot of ideas”
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How the programme works
Innovation funnel
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Rough idea
• All ideas are welcome!
• Anyone from SN
• Programme facilitates
Central innovation support team
- Establish collaboration with external partners
- Finding internal sponsor (management commitment)
- Help preparing Proof of Concept (one-pager)
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How the programme works
Innovation funnel
Proof of Concept
• Limited paperwork
• Just do it!
• Welcome the
unexpected results
• Objective is to learn
Our Innovation lab is used a lot!
- State-of-the-art equipment + big data rooms
- “open” and “secured” IT-environment
- Brainstorming and working together
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How the programme works
Innovation funnel
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Implementation
• So far >100 ideas,
>50 Proofs of Concept
• Winding road to
implementation
Defining a sharp business case is difficult
• Possible impact and return on investment ?
• Know in advance problems, hick-ups and difficulties ?
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How the programme works
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Jugaad Innovation
Six Principles of Jugaad Innovation
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Search opportunities when faced with difficulties
Do more with less
Think and act in a flexible way
Keep it simple
Expand your market
Follow your heart
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Examples of innovation tracks
Three examples of innovation tracks
- Input: Data collection with tablets
- Output: Infographics
- Throughput: Big data
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Data collection with tablets
– Used at Caribbean Netherlands for all household surveys:
Before: data collection on paper
• Costly
• Processing and routing errors
• Security issues
After: data collection on tablets
• Less costly, more secure
• Better quality
• Faster
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Infographics
… and two-thirds of Dutch
exports go to the 14 countries
that have been EU members the
longest, many of which are
located close to the Netherlands
and have large economies.
However, countries outside the
EU are becoming increasingly
important for the Netherlands ...
Source: the grand story “The importance of the EU for Dutch exports”
Innovation programme
• financed external illustrator
• accompanied creation process
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Big data: Twitter data – economic
sentiment
Based on 600 million tweets
• Sentiment mining
• Strong correlation with
consumer confidence
Innovation programme:
• Financed access to
Coosto database
• Supplied hardware
(big data rooms)
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Mobile phone data: day time population
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Mobile phone data: day time population
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Mobile phone data: tourism
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Concluding remarks:
Almost three years experience: approach is successful:
Think frugal, act flexible!
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Many ideas submitted
Facilities (lab, computers) used extensively
Collaboration with external partners stimulated
Help with non-statistical questions crucial
e.g. legal issues, price negotiations
– Path from PoC to implementation is challenging
– Can we collaborate with other NSIs?
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Innovation at
Statistics Netherlands
Marleen Verbruggen
Barteld Braaksma