Summary

The Federal Archives (BAR) are renewing the LINDAS platform (Linked Data Service) technically and organizationally for 1.5 million francs. LINDAS is an IT infrastructure used by the federal government, cantons, and municipalities to network and publish open government data (Open Government Data – OGD). The platform enables machines to automatically combine information from various sources. The BAR built LINDAS between 2017 and 2020 for 2.2 million francs; it has been in operation since 2020. The Swiss Federal Audit Office (SFAO) examined whether LINDAS is strategically and operationally mature enough for coordinated, comprehensive deployment across the federal government.

Persons

  • Swiss Federal Audit Office (SFAO) (Audit Authority)

Topics

  • Open Government Data (OGD)
  • Digital Infrastructure
  • Federal Administration
  • Data Interoperability

Clarus Lead

The renewal of LINDAS signals that Switzerland is modernizing its digital administrative infrastructure to overcome data silos between federal levels. The SFAO audit raises the central question of whether the platform is mature for comprehensive, coordinated deployment – a decisive step for the digital transformation of the administration.

Detailed Summary

LINDAS was conceived as a central hub for open government data. The platform uses linked data technology to enable authorities, business, science, and civil society to freely reuse and further process data. This reduces redundancies and enables data-driven decision-making across administrative boundaries.

The previous investment of 2.2 million francs (2017–2020) and the planned renewal for 1.5 million francs demonstrate that LINDAS is being treated as a strategic project. The SFAO audit focuses on two central dimensions: strategic maturity (alignment with governance objectives) and operational maturity (technical stability, scalability, user adoption). A positive audit result would pave the way for a coordinated rollout strategy across all federal levels.

Key Statements

  • LINDAS will be renewed technically and organizationally for 1.5 million francs
  • The platform enables machine-assisted data integration from various administrative sources
  • The SFAO examines strategic and operational maturity for comprehensive deployment

Critical Questions

  1. Evidence/Data Quality: What quality criteria does the SFAO define for "strategic maturity" and "operational maturity"? Are there benchmarks or comparative values with other federal countries?

  2. Conflicts of Interest: Which cantons and municipalities currently use LINDAS actively, and are there resistances against centralized data governance?

  3. Causality/Alternatives: Why was the renewal for 1.5 million francs necessary? Were the original 2.2 million francs not calculated sufficiently, or is this technological further development?

  4. Feasibility/Risks: What security and data protection measures are provided in the renewed platform? How is the data sovereignty of the cantons guaranteed?

Source Directory

Primary Source: [Voting Sunday / Latest Federal Council Conferences] – https://www.news.admin.ch/de/newnsb/aNLO1PkxMH7h3YBhZeCdF

Supplementary Sources:

  1. Swiss Federal Audit Office (SFAO): Use of Linked Data Services – https://www.efk.admin.ch/prufung/einsatz-von-linked-data-services/

Verification Status: ✓ 10.06.2026

This text was created with the support of an AI model. Editorial Responsibility: clarus.news | Fact-Check: 10.06.2026