In order to achieve these missions, DP must build upon the research and evidence that informs its knowledge base and underpins its policies. Below articulates the directorate’s critical policy issues and questions identified in response to the NDS missions. Key focus areas include defining and monitoring the data ecosystem and economy, generating evidence for intervention and understanding the impacts of policies.
DSIT is committed to improving data sharing. The NDS Mission 1 Policy Framework outlines the principles for intervention and priority areas for action for unlocking data value. Addressing the barriers to optimal data use and reuse is an important area of interest.
The government has held a consultation on reforms to the UK’s data protection regime. The approach for data protection change is set out in the documentation for a new data direction. DP is working to ensure that UK GDPR, the ICO and other parts of the data protection regime are fit for purpose. Evidence relating to privacy and trust in data and data use and the impacts of data regulation would help to address some of the directorate’s key questions.
DP wants to broaden its understanding of data infrastructure and strengthen its evidence base on data centres, cyber security and resilience. The environmental impacts of data use is a key area of research interest.
It is important to advance our knowledge of international data flows and how they shape and influence the global data system. Addressing the evidence gap on the value of data flows as well as the volume of data is of key interest.
If you are keen to register your interest in working and connecting with DSIT Digital Technology and Telecoms Group and/or submitting evidence, then please complete the DSIT-ARI Evidence survey - https://dsit.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_cDfmK2OukVAnirs.
Please view full details: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/department-for-science-innovation-and-technology-areas-of-research-interest/dsit-areas-of-research-interest-2024
The Open Data Initiative (ODI) demonstrates that there is a growing ambition from government to publish internal data as open data sets. (See https://data.gov.uk). Data custodians, particularly large governmental organis...
Funded by: EPSRC
Lead research organisation: Swansea University
Partially relevant as it focuses on data release and privacy, but does not directly address the impact of data privacy laws on collective benefits.
The aim of the Hub is to provide expert advice to businesses on privacy and data protection to help them build the confidence to innovate within regulatory parameters. To achieve cross-sectoral influence through a delive...
Funded by: Innovate UK
Lead research organisation: INFORMATION COMMISSIONERS OFFICE
Partially relevant as it addresses privacy and data protection for businesses, but does not directly discuss the impact of data privacy laws on collective benefits.
The UK-RoI Cross-Border Data Protection Network (Cross-DPN) will create a forum for discussing the challenges of data protection in the post-Brexit era through an interdisciplinary perspective, involving a number of stak...
Funded by: ESRC
Lead research organisation: University of Southampton
Fully relevant as it specifically addresses the challenges of data protection in the post-Brexit era and the impact on individuals, businesses, and national security.