Welcome from our Director

Joe Cuddeford introduces Smart Data Research UK

Welcome to the new Smart Data Research UK website – an important milestone as we bring our exciting programme to fruition over the next six years. 

Smart data is generated every time we engage with the digital world. When we buy something, like something, or get directions. It is incredibly valuable as a resource for understanding society and helping to solve some of the world’s biggest challenges, from preventing diseases to combating disinformation, reducing geographic disparities, or tackling climate change. 

Our mission is exactly that: to unlock the power of smart data to improve lives. We’ll do this by providing safe access to data, safeguarding public trust, and building capability for cutting-edge research. 

Smart data can be complex and difficult to work with. But we are building on strong foundations. The Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) has been investing in smart data for 10 years, including through two award-winning data centres that are already providing valuable data to researchers across the UK: Consumer Data Research Centre and Urban Big Data Centre. And we are modelling our approach on highly successful projects that have made other kinds of data available to research, including Administrative Data Research UK and Health Data Research UK.

It’s important to say we are in something of a startup phase, and this site will evolve as we do. Meanwhile, you can let us know what you think at smartdataresearch@ukri.org.

We look forward to working with you to do good things with data.

Joe Cuddeford, Director, Smart Data Research UK

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