Case Summary

The Semantic Interoperability Community of Practice (SICoP) was established to foster both offline and online conversations in order to achieve semantic interoperability and data integration. To date, SICoP has issued several white papers and hosted numerous tutorials, conferences, and pilot projects.

Business Challenge

Individuals representing a broad range of government organizations came together in search of a way to achieve "semantic interoperability" and "semantic data integration" focused on the government sector.

Approach Taken

This group of individuals established the Semantic Interoperability Community of Practice (SICoP.) SICoP seeks to enable Semantic Interoperability, specifically the "operationalizing" of these technologies and approaches, through online conversation, meetings, tutorials, conferences, pilot projects, and other activities aimed at developing and disseminating best practices.

Results Achieved

SICoP has created three white papers: "Introducing Semantic Technologies and the Vision of the Semantic Web"; "Semantic Wave 2006 - Executive Guide to the Business Value of Semantic Technologies"; and "Operationalizing the Semantic Web/Semantic Technologies: A roadmap for agencies on how they can take advantage of semantic technologies and begin to develop Semantic Web implementations using Semantic Wikis."

Lessons Learned

The combination of online meetings, tutorials, conferences, and pilot projects has helped make the effort a comprehensive and successful one.