Evolution of ODI Leeds
Hello everyone, we have exciting news to share! We are delighted to announce the next phase of our evolution - ODI Leeds is becoming Open Innovations.
From 1 November 2021, we will no longer be a Node (franchise) of the Open Data Institute (the ODI).
From then on, we will be Open Innovations Limited. Many of you will already be familiar with Open Innovations as it is our operating company name. We will remain a mission-led, non-profit organisation and retain our #RadicallyOpen approach to doing innovation with data from North England.
Why are we announcing this now? Well, just like every other business and organisation in 2021, we have been looking at how we will operate as we emerge from the pandemic, and we have also been discussing with the ODI how their Node structure would work in this new emerging landscape.
The result is that we have decided that the time is right to become a separate organisation. Over the last 7 years, we have had a great relationship with the ODI and we are extremely thankful for the brand and the support that they provided to us, particularly in the early years. The ODI understands our decision and we will still continue to work together, just not with a formal franchise agreement.
We would like to thank all of the people who we have worked with at the ODI over the years and let them know that this is not a decision we have taken lightly and is not one that reflects on them but we have decided that it is time for us to grow up, evolve, and become more independent.
In simple terms this means that although our trading name will change and we will have a different relationship with the ODI, there will be little change in the way that Open Innovations continues to operate and deliver value for our community, for our funders and sponsors, and our clients and customers. Importantly we will continue to deliver on our mission-led work and remain #RadicallyOpen.
This transition will take the next couple of months and you'll see some changes to our website and branding but the core of what we do - our team, our location, our space, and how we work - will not change.
We are looking forward to this next exciting phase in our history and if you'd like to discuss anything with us, please do get in touch with myself or anyone else on the team.
Very best,
Paul Connell
Founder & Head of Innovation
Open Innovations (formerly ODI Leeds)
