The aim of the Future Data Services (FDS) programme is to establish the next generation of data services beyond 2024.
To achieve this, ESRC is:
The overall aim of the Future Data Services (FDS) programme is to decide how best to invest in the next generation of data services beyond 2024.
ESRC needs to consider how to invest in providing access to social science data and associated services in the future. The aim of this is to ensure that the services and infrastructure we fund supports the needs of data users, owners and managers from across sectors, and remains fit for purpose, within a rapidly evolving landscape. This will be achieved through:
In 2012, ESRC funded the UK Data Service, which brought together a number of investments under the same roof. This included the Economic and Social Data Service (ESDS).
Established in 2003, ESDS was managed and led by the UK Data Archive and consisted of four distinct services for researchers:
The pilot project Secure Data Service was established in 2009 with additional funding provided to the UK Data Archive from ESRC. UK Data Service brought all of these services together as a single service in 2012, led by a consortium of institutions including:
It continues to provide a wide range of services for users accessing data, including training, comprehensive documentation and support, and archiving facilities. It also plays a role in supporting users to use data more productively. UK Data Service remains the ESRC-funded repository for data generated through ESRC-funded grants.
The data access landscape has changed considerably since the initial investment in UK Data Service in 2012 due to a variety of factors, including:
While the data landscape has expanded (with more types and sources of data available for researchers to use), service provision has also greatly increased. A number of new services have been established since UK Digital Service was launched in 2012. These include:
In addition, CLOSER has operated to provide services to researchers who are specifically using longitudinal data for their work.
| Title of workshop | Date and time | Intended audience | Registration link |
|---|---|---|---|
| Future data services survey of data users | October to November 2022 | Users of social science data (record-level data, such as survey response data, administrative records, mobile phone data, interview transcripts), particularly but not exclusively using ESRC funded data services (UK Data Service, Urban Big Data Centre, Consumer Data Research Centre) | Survey |
| Interdisciplinary users of social science data workshop | 10 November 2022
1:30pm to 4:30pm |
Research users and creators of social science data. This includes those beyond the social science remit who interact with social science data in an interdisciplinary capacity | Workshop |
| Student and early career researcher users of social science data workshop | 16 November 2022
10am to 1pm |
All students and early career researchers who use social science data | Workshop |
| Data services of the future event | January 2023 | All stakeholders who are interested in updates on the next steps for the Future Data Services programme | Coming soon |
The review is conducted by the ESRC head office, working with a senior strategic fellow and a strategic fellow with input from data users, owners and managers in the ESRC community.
Oversight of the Future Data Services (FDS) programme of work is provided by a UKRI steering group, an external Programme Board with additional input from five thematic task and finish groups and a user panel.
Last updated: 27 October 2022
