Data.gov.uk has been developed by Sir Tim Berners-Lee, founder of the web, and Professor Nigel Shadbolt at the University of Southampton.

BBC: Government opens data to public

"It can sound a bit geeky, " admitted Professor Nigel Shadbolt, the man trying to push through the government's open data agenda.

BBC: Midata: Will the public share government's enthusiasm?

But those who study the world wide web, such as Prof Nigel Shadbolt, of Southampton University, believe the principles on which it was built are worth preserving and there is no better monument to them than the first website.

BBC: Cern re-creating first web page to revere early ideals

Created by Web inventor Tim Berners-Lee and Nigel Shadbolt, Professor of Computer Science at the University of Southampton, the institute has announced support from the Omidyar Network and from the World Bank, to help collect evidence globally on the benefits of open data and train senior people who will lead open data initiatives in developing countries.

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