Webinar: working with donated data
Webinar led by our Smart Data Donation Service on 6 May 2026, 12:00pm to 1:00pm.
Smart Data Research UK
Let’s do good
things with data
We’re the UK’s national programme for smart data research. Our mission is to unlock the power of data to improve lives.
What is smart data?
Smart data is made whenever we engage with the digital world. When we buy something, ‘like’ something, or get directions.
If used for scientific research, smart data can change our world. It can help us to understand important social challenges, from disease prevention to climate change.
Latest news and events
All news and funding articles ordered by publication date
The right to know – discover SDDS
The Smart Data Donation Service is helping people use their data rights to understand how technology shapes wellbeing.
HASP named Big Issue changemaker
Our Healthy and Sustainable Places Data Service has been recognised as one of the Big Issue’s 100 Changemakers for 2026.
15 new smart data research fellowships
Welcome to the Smart Data Research UK Fellows! Joining our growing community of researchers.
Financial Data Service for insights on financial behaviours, economic resilience and regional economic activity.
Geographic Data Service for new insights into equitable and sustainable growth from linked and georeferenced smart data.
Healthy and Sustainable Places Data Service for place-based research on health, lifestyles, and mobility.
Imago – Data Service for Imagery, unlocking the potential of satellite imagery to understand urgent challenges.
Smart Data Donation Service, empowering citizens to take control of their own data and share it safely with researchers.
Smart Energy Data Service, transforming our understanding of the UK’s energy system through integrated data.
What we do
Working with data partners
Smart Data Research UK brings together companies and researchers to unlock the power of smart data for research.
Supporting the research community
We provide researchers with safe access to data to help address broader social, economic and environmental challenges.
Involving the public in our work
Smart Data Research UK prioritises public involvement, transparency, ethics and responsibility.
Featured stories
Data informs Scotland’s path to net zero
Category: SustainabilityResearchers at the University of Edinburgh have used data from our Financial Data Service to look at retrofit costs.
Smart data and political research
Category: AcceleratorUniversity of Manchester researchers are investigating how to safely link social media data with political survey data.
Shopping data and cancer research
Category: Health and wellbeingHealth researchers from Imperial College London, UCL and the University of Birmingham examine loyalty card data.
Research themes
Productivity and prosperity
Smart data can help us understand what drives growth and innovation. It helps us plan infrastructure for different communities across the UK and tackle inequalities. The advent of smart data sources provides a unique opportunity to study the factors that influence productivity and prosperity. These sources include professional social networks, transaction records and remote sensing.
Health and wellbeing
Smart data can provide insights to improve population health and tackle inequalities. It can help us understand the drivers of the mental health crisis, and how we might live longer, healthier lives. Data sources might include financial transactions, loyalty cards, social media and wearable devices. Using the data, we can better understand the links between health, wellbeing, behaviours, circumstances and places.
Digital society
Smart data can provide insights about online safety, misinformation, the digital divide and the future of work. The digital society research theme encompasses studying data from social media, search queries and online activity is vital for understanding the challenges and opportunities of advancing technology.
Sustainability
Smart data can help tackle issues such as decarbonisation, green growth and the transition to a sustainable future. Data generated through our use of devices and the data gathered by sensors have huge potential to support research related to environmental sustainability, one of our four research themes.