Integrating Big Data into Israel's National Statistical System to Enhance Official Statistics
A collaboration between the Israel Central Bureau of Statistics (ICBS), the UK's Sustainable Criminal Justice Solutions (SCJS) Group, and Statistics Poland (GUS)
In November 2024, the ICBS launched a Twinning project in collaboration with the UK's SCJS Group and Statistics Poland (GUS).
This two-year project will transform the national statistical system by implementing advanced Big Data analysis methods while maintaining strict confidentiality and privacy. By transitioning to innovative information sources and expanding international collaborations, the ICBS will be able to reduce the response burden on the public and provide accessible, reliable, and up-to-date data for more informed decision-making and smarter policymaking.
Project Objectives
The primary goal of the project is to strengthen and improve the capabilities of the ICBS in support of better and more efficient policymaking in Israel. This will be achieved through enhancing CBS's capabilities via Big Data-based methods that will provide decision-makers with updated information to deal with new challenges, reducing the response burden on survey participants, and establishing a national data campus - all while maintaining strict privacy and confidentiality of information through advanced cyber technologies.
Work Methods
The project's achievements will be based on equal and collaborative dialogue between partners. Due to regional security constraints, the first year will focus on virtual meetings, workshops, and expert sessions held in the UK and Poland. These meetings aim to share knowledge and experience, as well as best practices aligned with EU regulations in areas such as data collection, data completion, and quality assurance.
Project Components
1 – Development of Strategy for Big Data Collection
Development of a strategy for collecting information from diverse sources such as web scraping, mobile device location data, social media, and more — with the aim of reducing dependence on traditional surveys.
2 – Establishing a Privacy and Confidentiality Protection Framework in Line with EU Regulations
Ensuring data privacy and confidentiality through techniques such as anonymisation and synthetic data generation, using Privacy Enhancing Technologies (PETs).
3 – Development of an Implementation Plan for Big Data Strategy
The implementation plan for the Big Data strategy and Privacy Enhancing Technologies (PET) framework will be based on clear management and governance tools, while addressing legal and ethical considerations, upgrading technological infrastructure, and supporting gradual implementation. It will also include establishing a training and R&D centre for modern data methodologies — with the aim of maximising the benefits of Big Data and preserving strict privacy and information security.
4 – A Case Study on Producing Statistics Using Administrative Data and Big Data
A case study to produce statistics on household income and expenditure in Israel through a combination of administrative sources and Big Data.
The EU–Israel Partnership Framework
Israel and the European Union share a long and shared history based on growing interdependence and cooperation. This partnership has deepened over five decades through commercial, cultural, and political collaborations and an extensive system of agreements.
Relations between the European Union and Israel began as early as 1975, when a cooperation agreement was signed, and in 2000 it was replaced by the "Association Agreement." In May 2004, the European Union adopted a new Action Plan to strengthen ties with "European Neighbourhood" countries, including Israel.
The aim of the new Action Plan with neighbouring countries is to develop a prosperous and anchored zone of partner countries with which the EU can maintain peaceful and productive relations. A central component of this policy is the mutual action programme between the EU and its partners. The Action Plan outlines several areas and issues where Israel's statistical infrastructure must advance to enhance awareness of European and international statistical standards and to achieve higher levels of harmonisation.
For more information
Twinning Project: Sharing Expertise and Knowledge
The European Union's Twinning projects are designed to create cooperation between public sector institutions in EU member states and public sector institutions in neighbouring countries. The purpose of these projects is to support the acquisition of skills and experience necessary for adopting, implementing, or enforcing European Union laws, and they are based on cooperation between equal partners.
Project Contacts
Project Directors (Israel):
Yoel Finkel
Email: yoel@cbs.gov.il
Sigalit Mazeh
Email: sigalit@cbs.gov.il
Project Advisor (Israel):
Hana Cohen
Email: hanac@cbs.gov.il
Previous Twinning Projects:
