The Digital Economy Unit (DEU) wants to probe and develop evidence on the adoption and potential impact of emerging technologies digital regulation on consumer choice, and the impacts of the new pro-competition digital markets regime. Already, through the Plan for Digital Regulation, the government launched a conversation about how to set the right rules for governing the digital economy.
The Directorate is committed to monitoring and evaluations to inform progress against specific policy measures and the Plan for Digital Regulation. The current key objectives in this regard are delivering:
• An outcomes monitoring framework to monitor trends on key areas of the digital ecosystem that the government is seeking to influence, through regulation alongside broader policy measures.
• Developing and implementing a monitoring and evaluation plan for the new pro-competition regime for digital markets.
• Evaluations of specific governance, regulatory or spending measures.
• Research projects to provide an overarching view of impacts and learning on regulatory measures’ implementation.
The directorate is also interested in forward looking /exploratory research that can inform policy design:
• Research projects on consumer choice in the digital environment.
• Digital workforce - understanding how to develop workforces to ensure we have the skills needed for the UK now, and in the future. This includes considerations around recruitment, retention and progression; and tackling diversity issues in digital and technology jobs. It is vital for the UK to ensure that our workforces are skilled and representative of the population as a whole, so that our systems are designed and built for the needs of everyone.
• Digital ecosystems in UK regions - building on from the Assessing the UK’s regional digital ecosystems research published 1.in 2021. DEU would like to develop evidence on what could be the most efficient solutions in addressing the differing maturity of local ecosystems between, and within, UK regions.
• Identifying emerging technologies - monitoring their adoption amongst both the business and general population, understanding their potential impact, any competition implications, and how government can support their development.
• Digital Economy – improving how we define and measure the digital economy, ensuring that it remains relevant, with digital being a fast-changing area.
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
This question was published as part of the set of ARIs in this document:
**_Connect, Innovate, Grow: Accelerating the North East's Digital Sector in established and emerging markets_** Building on our well-established Digital Cluster development and Access to Finance work, Innovation SuperNe...
Funded by: Innovate UK
Lead research organisation: INNOVATE NE LIMITED
Partially relevant as it focuses on accelerating the growth of tech startups in the North East region, but does not specifically address business support practices.
This research project is exploring how firms are applying and engaging with new digital technologies to become more efficient, profitable and dynamic. While there is considerable understanding about how digital technolog...
Funded by: EPSRC
Lead research organisation: City, University of London
This project explores how firms can use digital technologies to sense consumer needs, create value, and monetize that value, which aligns with the question on effective business support practices for tech startups.
"This project sees a partnership of small business network, Enterprise Nation, and Brunel University, work together to encourage small businesses to adopt existing digital tools and technologies, with a view to real...
Funded by: Innovate UK
Lead research organisation: ENTERPRISE NATION LTD
While this project focuses on boosting performance of micro firms through digital technologies, it only partially addresses the question as it does not specifically target tech startups and scaleups.