Funding opportunity

Funding opportunity: Smart Data Research UK data service: indications of interest

Opportunity status:
Closed
Funders:
Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), UK Research and Innovation
Funding type:
Grant
Total fund:
£30,000,000
Publication date:
15 August 2023
Opening date:
Closing date:

We are inviting indications of interest to deliver the next stage of Smart Data Research UK (formerly Digital Footprints) data services.

We have allocated £30 million funding for the data services from late 2024 to April 2029.

Further information on the data services and how to submit an indication of interest can be found here: indications of interest guidance.

The indications of interest stage will run from 15 August 2023 to 10 October 2023.

Responses are invited via the UK Research and Innovation Engagement Hub.

You must be based at a UK research organisation to be eligible for ESRC funding.

If you would like to discuss your ideas with us, please contact: smartdataresearch@ukri.org

Please note this information on Smart Data Research UK may change based on strategy feedback and the information received through the indications of interest.

The funding opportunity will open early 2024. More information will be available on this page then.

You will be able to submit to the full funding opportunity for data services to be launched early 2024, regardless of whether you have submitted indications of interest.

Who can apply

You must be based at an organisation to be eligible for funding and UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) Before submitting indications of interest please check the following:

Equality, diversity and inclusion

We recognise the value of diversity of thought, people and ideas. We are committed to achieving equality of opportunity for all funding applicants. We encourage applications from a diverse range of researchers.

Measures to support and encourage equality, diversity and inclusion will be embedded across Smart Research UK and we will expect respondents to consider how these could be reflected work to develop their indications of interest.

We support people to work in a way that suits their personal circumstances. This includes:

  • career breaks
  • support for people with caring responsibilities
  • flexible working
  • alternative working patterns

Find out more about equality, diversity and inclusion at UKRI.

What we're looking for

Scope

We are inviting indications of interest to deliver Smart Data Research UK (formerly Digital Footprints) data services. The teams delivering these services will build long-term partnerships with data owners and deliver research-ready datasets to accredited researchers. We envision these services as embedded in existing or new centres of capability in the UK research landscape. The strategic hub will provide leadership and coordination to enable the data services to develop federated capabilities incrementally.

We are interested in receiving a range of ideas, from large scale indications of interest involving consortia of research organisations to smaller scale interventions which reflect the maturity of the landscape.

We are open to indications of interest that combine more than one service under one organisation or centre, which may also have other research interests contributing to our four thematic pillars and beyond.

We will work with respondents during the indications of interest process to provide informal feedback and connect teams who have agreed to sharing their submissions with other applicants prior to the grant funding opportunity opening in early 2024.

For further information on the data services and how to submit an indication of interest please see Smart Data Research UK data services – indications of interest guidance.

Duration

The duration of data service awards will be from late 2024 to April 2029.

Funding available

The full economic cost (FEC) of your project can be up to £30 million.

We will fund 80% of the FEC.

Further funding could be available for data, research, innovation and development activities during the course of the programme.

How to apply

Responses are invited via the UKRI Engagement Hub at: UK Research and Innovation – Citizen Space. If you would like to discuss your ideas with us, please contact: smartdataresearch@ukri.org

Respondents can provide more than one indication of interest which set out different visions and approaches. If respondents are submitting more than one indication of interest, they should clearly state an order of preference for the indications of interest submitted.

Please note respondents will not be held to their indications of interest and will be allowed to revise their plans and indicative costs presented so that their proposal aligns with the full funding opportunity for data services when published in early 2024.

Deadline

You must submit your indication of interest by 4.00pm UK time on 10 October 2023.

You will not be able to submit an indication of interest after this time.

Make sure you are aware of and follow any internal institutional deadlines.

Personal data

Processing personal data

ESRC, as part of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), will need to collect some personal information to manage your UKRI Engagement Hub account and the registration of your indication of interest.

We will handle personal data in line with UK data protection legislation and manage it securely. For more information, including how to exercise your rights, read our privacy notice.

Publication of outcomes

We will not publish the Smart Data Research UK data service indications of interest.

How we will assess your application

We will not provide peer reviewed feedback on the scientific quality of your indication of interest, but we will provide high level feedback on strategic fit to the Smart Data Research UK portfolio.

This could include providing feedback on contribution towards:

  • the aim and objectives of Smart Data Research UK
  • priority datasets and suppliers
  • our thematic pillars
  • addressing the barriers to using smart data
  • project partners and co-funding

We will take a portfolio approach to developing the data services. The complementarity of approaches across the portfolio will be a key element of consideration. This will include considering the maturity level of potential data services, including the potential for innovation and challenges and risks to delivery.

We will work with respondents during the indications of interest process to connect respondents where there may be opportunities for collaboration or consortia. A workshop will be held in autumn 2023 to help build networks and partnerships.

The full funding opportunity for data services will be launched in early 2024, with multi-year grant funding awarded through a competitive peer review process, in line with our principles of assessment and decision-making processes.

Principles of assessment

We support the San Francisco declaration on research assessment (DORA) and recognise the relationship between research assessment and research integrity.

Find out about the UKRI Principles of Assessment and Decision Making.

Contact details

Get help with your application

For help on costings and writing your application, contact your research office. Allow enough time for your organisation’s submission process.

Ask about this funding opportunity

Email: support@funding-service.ukri.org

Phone: 01793 547490

Our phone lines are open:

  • Monday to Thursday 8:30am to 5:00pm
  • Friday 8:30am to 4:30pm

Sensitive information

If you or a core team member need to tell us something you wish to remain confidential, email the UKRI Funding Service helpdesk on support@funding-service.ukri.org

Include in the subject line: the funding opportunity title; sensitive information; your UKRI Funding Service application number.

Typical examples of confidential information include:

  • individual is unavailable until a certain date (for example due to parental leave)
  • declaration of interest
  • additional information about eligibility to apply that would not be appropriately shared in the Applicant and team capability section
  • conflict of interest for UKRI to consider in reviewer or panel participant selection
  • the application is an invited resubmission

For information about how UKRI handles personal data, read UKRI’s privacy notice.

Additional info

Background

Smart Data Research UK (formerly Digital Footprints) is a new UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) investment in digital research infrastructure. It will deliver a step change in the use of new forms of data generated through everyday interactions with digital devices, including mobile apps, digital marketplaces, social media, wearables, satnavs, sensors, and smart technology. Smart data, sometimes referred to as ‘digital footprints data’, can provide new insights about major social challenges such as energy security, the cost of living, climate change, emergency response, health, wellbeing and social mobility.

Phase one launched in April 2022 and will end in 2024. An investment of £10 million, it is comprised of three main components:

Phase two of Smart Data Research UK is a £49.3 million investment from the UKRI Infrastructure Fund from 2023 to 2029.

We are inviting indications of interest to deliver the next stage of Smart Data Research UK data services.

Strategy

Our strategy sets out aim, objectives and delivery approach for Smart Data Research UK alongside the opportunities and challenges associated with digital footprint data.

Please refer to the strategy for further information when writing your indications of interest.

Workshop for potential applicants

A workshop will be held in autumn 2023 to help build networks and partnerships.

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