UK govt announces £22m investment in ‘smart data’
News
The investment will benefit university researchers across the country
Smart Data Research UK, a national programme for data research and part of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), has announced a £22 million investment to help UK researchers access new ‘smart data’.
Smart data is information that has been processed to provide clear, actionable insights. Unlike raw data, which can be difficult to interpret, smart data is focused, helping businesses make informed decisions quickly. For example, instead of analysing every customer interaction, smart data highlights key patterns, such as common reasons for support requests, allowing companies to improve their services efficiently.
The new projects being funded by this £22 million investment include the UK’s first smart data donation platform and a satellite imagery service, providing valuable data about the UK’s economy, environment, and public health.
The investment will be targeted at four key areas, based at universities across the country:
The Imagery Data Service (Imago): Led by professors at Newcastle University and University of Liverpool, this data service combines AI and stakeholder collaboration to develop new data products based on satellite imaging, helping tackle challenges like urban development and social inequalities in the UK.
The Smart Data Donation Service (SDDS): The SDDS will recruit data donors to provide data securely with researchers, aiming to help develop evidence-based policy around online safety and digital wellbeing. Initially focused on 90,000 data donations from video game users, the SDDS will enable research into mental health, digital literacy, online community, addiction, discriminatory behavior, and disinformation. It will be led by professors at the University of York.
3.The Geographic Data Service: This project will bring together different data sources to provide insights into fair and sustainable growth, focusing on geographic differences and the challenges faced by vulnerable groups. It will support new partnerships and coordinate a national master’s dissertation programme to help nurture the next generation of smart data researchers. The project is led by professors from UCL and the University of Liverpool, with collaboration from from the University of Oxford and the University of Edinburgh.
The Healthy and Sustainable Places Data Service: Led by the University of Leeds, this project will leverage data sets from the retail, business, transport and infrastructure sectors to help tackle ongoing challenges related to health and sustainability in local economies.
“This investment in a new network of smart data services helps put the UK at the forefront of data-driven innovation. Data infrastructure is as critical to our shared prosperity as transport, water or power networks. When we invest in data infrastructure we are investing in economic growth, improved public services, and a more sustainable future,” said Stian Westlake, Executive Chair of ESRC (Economic and Social Research Council) in a statement.
“By providing researchers with safe access to new data, methods and tools we are empowering them to tackle some of the most pressing challenges facing the UK today, from boosting productivity to improving health outcomes,” echoed Joe Cuddeford, Director of Smart Data Research UK.
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