Open data ecosystem (ODE) is a concept that provides a dynamic and holistic understanding to open data provision and use. The main characteristics of open data ecosystems are user-drivenness, inclusiveness, circularity, and skill-based (Van Loenen, Zuiderwijk et al., unpublished/ submitted).

In comparison to the concept of open data infrastructure (ODI), ODE is broader concept built upon the ODI, which represents „the basic physical and organisational structure and facilities needed for the functioning of an open data ecosystem“ (van Loenen, 2018: 6). 

According to Zuiderwijk et al. (2014), ODE encompass four key elements: (1) releasing and publishing open data on the internet, (2) searching, finding, evaluating and viewing data and their related licenses, (3) cleansing, analyzing, enriching, combining, linking and visualizing dana, and (4) interpreting and discussing data and providing feedback to the data provider and other stakeholders. Three additional elements of ODE include (5) user pathways showing directions for how open data can be used, (6) a quality management system and (7) different types of metadata to be able to connect the elements.[1] 

Sources: 

van Loenen, Bastiaan, Vancauwenberghe, Glenn, Crompvoets, Joep and Dalla Corte, Lorenzo (2018). Open Data Exposed. In: van Loenen, Bastiaan, Vancauwenberghe, Glenn and Crompvoets, Joep (ed.) Open Data Exposed. Berlin: Springer, pp. 1-10.

Zuiderwijk, Anneke, Janssen, Marijn and Davis, Chris (2014). Innovation with open data: Essential elements of open data ecosystems, Information Polity 19 (1-2): 17–33.