The Smart Data Research UK programme will unlock the power of new forms of data for research and innovation that solves social and economic challenges. It aims to provide secure data access, safeguard public trust, and build capability for cutting-edge research.
New forms of data offer a powerful opportunity to understand society, improve lives, and sustainably grow our economy. We define ‘smart data’ as the data generated through engagement with digital systems, devices and sensors, including:
- mobile apps
- navigation systems
- social media
- sensors in consumer devices and the environment
- digital transactions
It can be about individuals, organisations, systems, or the physical environment.
Although we have seen examples of pioneering interdisciplinary research using novel data sources, many datasets cannot currently be used to their full potential for research. Researchers are limited by insufficient data access and technical infrastructure, as well as underdeveloped methodology and ethical procedures.
Smart Data Research UK (SDR UK) will unlock the power of new forms of data for research and innovation that solves social and economic challenges. It will do this by providing secure data access, safeguarding public trust, and building capability for cutting-edge research.
Investing at scale
We are now in phase two of the programme, which will see an investment of £49.3 million from the UK Research and Innovation Infrastructure Fund from 2023 to 2029. It will enable SDR UK to invest at scale in a broader range of data services, speeding up and simplifying access to data for research.
The programme will be delivered through a centrally coordinated, federated infrastructure comprising a strategic hub and six federated data services.
Strategic hub
The strategic hub will be embedded in ESRC and responsible for:
- setting the strategic direction and overarching operating model
- driving strategic communications and engagement with key stakeholders and audiences
- collaborating to build a user-friendly federation of services and enable cross-domain research
- piloting innovative approaches to creating, accessing and using smart data
- ensuring involvement of diverse voices to inform our work
- providing support and assurance on responsible smart data governance and research
- stimulating high-impact research and use cases aligned with our themes that demonstrate smart data’s value for public good
Federated data services
There will be six federated data services, which will cultivate long-term partnerships with data owners, providing curated access to data for priority areas of research interest.
SDR UK will work iteratively to develop integration across the data infrastructures, working towards a federated model. Data services are responsible for:
- acquiring, stewarding and enabling safe access to smart data for research
- collaborating to build a user-friendly federation of services and enable cross-domain research
- ensuring responsible and ethical use of data
- building capability across the research community
- enabling impact through research aligned with SDR UK’s themes