£1.8m investment in smart data research projects

Smart Data Research UK is awarding seven research teams with funding under its accelerator scheme.     

The £1.8 million scheme is designed to support innovative projects that explore how to create, access, and use smart data more effectively.    

The funded projects include linking data from video game play to better understand how gaming affects mental health and using social media data to predict changes to house prices.   

Each project addresses a research challenge and will contribute to the broader long-term transformation in this field led by Smart Data Research UK.   

Stian Westlake Executive Chair of the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) said:  "We are committed to investing in the UK’s capability to realise the potential of data and enable scientific breakthroughs. These innovative projects are about discovering what’s possible, solving problems and paving the way for others to follow."    

Joe Cuddeford Director of Smart Data Research UK, said: "Whenever we use digital services, we generate valuable data that can be reused for research. However, researchers at the forefront of data science face significant challenges. These projects will help us make it easier for smart data to be used safely to help solve social and economic challenges. 

"From using internet data to map economic activities in the UK to exploring the impact of video games on mental health, these initiatives will deliver valuable insights that can inform policy and enhance our understanding of significant societal issues." 

The funded projects  

An atlas of economic activities in the UK: tapping into web archives for social science research, led by Professor Emmanouil Tranos, University of Bristol.  

Capturing the digital footprints of video game play, led by Andrew Przybylski , Oxford Internet Institute, University of Oxford.    

Integrated analysis of social media and hedonic house prices for neighbourhood change, led by Alexis (Lex) Comber, University of Leeds.  

An acceptability and governance foundation for linking participant retailer loyalty card records to UK longitudinal population studies, led by Anya Skatova, University of Bristol.  

Linking digital footprint and survey data for open research, led by Professor Rachel Gibson, The University of Manchester.  

Mobilising gender data, led by Alessia Calafiore , The University of Edinburgh.

Developing a framework to measure and correct biases in human mobility data extracted from digital footprints, led by Francisco Rowe, University of Liverpool.

For more information about all the projects, please visit the Smart Data Research UK website.