The current focus on releasing open data from public sector and allowing this data to be a resource in new outputs seems to be hampered in its evolvement. Despite the growing number of open data, re-use of this data is not reaching the expected levels. This paper sets out to increase our understanding of one of the key activities, the re-use of open data, in order to bring clarity into the processes for making open data the valuable resource it is believed to have a potential to. Specifically, this study aims at deriving at a definition of the yet blurry concept of open data re-use, and by doing so, contributes to form a foundation for future research on open data re-use.

By undertaking a literature review; current policies in Europe where analysed, three research streams on open data re-use were identified, the scope and boundaries of re-use as an activity well as the re-users of open data were investigated, before a definition finally were derived through a discussion. At the end, reflections on future research based on findings in the discussions are made to further excel our scholarly understanding of open data re-use and the long-term effects of it.