The aim of the Digital Footprints programme is to coordinate, convene, develop and support thriving interdisciplinary digital footprint data communities, focused on addressing pressing national and international challenges. The programme will be delivered in two phases.
People’s interactions with the world and each other are increasingly mediated by digital devices. These interactions create digital footprints data. This data includes:
- internet and social media
- geo-spatial
- commercial and transactional
- sensor and image
They can be harnessed to understand and address key research, business and policy questions about our increasingly digital society.
However, digital footprints data cannot currently be used to its full potential. Researchers are limited by a number of challenges including insufficient data access and infrastructure, underdeveloped methodology and theoretical development, and opaque ethical procedures.
Digital Footprints will deliver a transformational shift in the creation, access and use of digital footprint data. It will address critical gaps within the landscape and unlock the huge opportunity for digital footprint data to positively transform research and policy-making for areas of national and international interest. Digital Footprints will be delivered in two phases.
Phase one
Launched in April 2022 and set to end in 2024 with funding of £10 million, phase one is comprised of three main components.
Digital Footprints Data Services
The Digital Footprints Data Services enables access, creation and use of digital footprint data that delivers against national priorities and needs for the social sciences, delivered through the:
Digital Footprints Accelerator Scheme
The Digital Footprints Accelerator Scheme is open for expressions of interest until August 2023. This funding opportunity aims to fund innovative proof of concept projects to meet challenges in the digital footprints landscape. The projects funded through this opportunity will lay the foundations for a transformational shift in the creation, access and use of Digital Footprint Data for the public good.
ESRC Digital Footprints Strategic Advice Team
The ESRC Digital Footprints Strategic Advice Team, started in January 2023 and led by Professor Rachel Franklin (Newcastle University), will provide strategic and informed advice to ESRC on the development and delivery of Digital Footprints. If you are interested in getting involved, please contact Rachel Franklin at email: rachel.franklin@ncl.ac.uk
Phase two
Scheduled to start in 2023 and end in 2029, phase two is part of UK Research and Innovation’s UKRI) £481 million investment in major research and innovation infrastructure. Phase two will see an investment (subject to business case approval) of £48.4 million from the UKRI Infrastructure Fund.
Digital Footprints aims to:
- unlock access to digital footprint data by building long-term partnerships with data owners
- deliver a secure, efficient, effective digital research infrastructure
- deliver research-ready digital footprint data to researchers
- foster public trust in digital footprints research through public involvement, engagement and responsible practices
- promote innovation by leading a thriving and skilled interdisciplinary digital footprints research community
- address the unique methodological and technical challenges of using digital footprints data for research
- deliver benefits for UK society and economy from the opportunities posed by digital footprint data
Future Data Services
Digital Footprints will inform and be informed by the Future Data Services programme, which is ensuring that the services and infrastructure we fund beyond 2024 supports the needs of data users, owners and managers from across sectors, and remains fit for purpose, within a rapidly evolving landscape.