Initial DARE UK Phase 1 recommendations

The aim of DARE UK Phase 1 was to understand the key challenges across the data research landscape and how they could be overcome to better support data research at scale for the benefit of society. This resulted in a set of recommendations based on input from a wide variety of stakeholders from across the sensitive data research landscape. It was achieved via a programme of engagement including over 60 hours of interviews and over 30 hours of workshops with more than 500 individuals including researchers, technologists, private sector representatives, members of the public and others.

The report made 31 recommendations for the design and delivery of a coordinated and trustworthy national data research infrastructure across seven core areas of need: (1) demonstrating trustworthiness; (2) researcher accreditation and access; (3) accreditation of research environments; (4) data and discovery; (5) core federation services; (6) capability and capacity; and (7) funding and incentives.

What next?

In August, UK Research and Innovation confirmed further funding for the DARE UK programme with a total of £4.5 million from September 2022 to March 2024 as part of the UKRI Digital Research Infrastructure (DRI) programme. This additional funding came as an extension of DARE UK Phase 1, to continue to be led in partnership with Health Data Research UK (HDR UK) and ADR UK (Administrative Data Research UK).

This further funding into DARE UK Phase 1 enabled the Delivery Team to take forward some of the more immediate recommendations outlined in the recommendations report, as well as to dedicate time to further scope and refine longer-term recommendations. This was done in continued collaboration with stakeholders from across the sensitive data research landscape and the public.