Exploring emerging data technologies: why is it important?
Emerging technologies can use data to help businesses increase innovation, reduce costs and create competitive advantages. But it can be hard for businesses to cut through the hype to know when to adopt new technologies, how they affect business models or what they can be used for.
In practice
For example, CityMapper uses artificial intelligence (AI) to analyse open data about transport systems combined with personal data about journeys to improve the user experience of public transport.
Our approach
As an independent non-profit, we want to help UK businesses understand the benefits of emerging data technologies. This project looked at four focus areas:
- Artificial intelligence
- Blockchain and smart contracts
- Personal data
- Geographic UK data clusters
This R&D project links in with our wider work around data and emerging tech.
Key outputs
Smart contracts and distributed ledgers might be useful for enabling efficient, trusted interactions, but it depends on context and design. Read our report: How can smart contracts be useful for businesses?
The data clusters work enhanced and improved the UK Tech Innovation Index, with more metrics added, to show the most accurate picture yet of innovation drivers and communities in the UK
We’ve created a matrix of AI business models to help you to understand the array of models currently used by businesses developing AI systems, and lay out the most commonly expressed reasons for the current trend of restricting access to data. Read our report: The role of data in AI business models.
To help visualise the topics researched in this project, we produced some animation explainers: The role of data in artificial intelligence; Personal data in transport; What is data infrastructure; and Can smart contracts inform trust?
Background and funding
This work is part of a three-year innovation programme, running to March 2020 with a funding profile of £2m each year from Innovate UK, the UK’s innovation agency.
Through our R&D programme, we aim to shape future services and promote productivity and growth with cutting edge expertise.
Photo by Daniel Chen on Unsplash
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Browse our reports and blogs from the research, below
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Blog 09/08/2018
Can data infrastructure help fix travel woes in the north of England?
- Transport
- Peter Wells
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Reports 13/06/2018
Personal data in transport: exploring a framework for the future (report)
- Data ethics and privacy
- Transport
- Jared Robert Keller
- Olivier Thereaux
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Blog 06/06/2018
New rankings show UK’s most innovative tech clusters
- Data infrastructure
- Geospatial data and mapping
- Innovation
- Cities
- Startups
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Guides, Reports 09/05/2018
How can smart contracts be useful for businesses? (report)
- Emerging tech and AI
- James Maddison
- Jared Robert Keller
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Reports 20/04/2018
The role of data in AI business models (report)
- Emerging tech and AI
- Jared Robert Keller
- Blog 05/01/2018 Invitation to tender: animated videos explaining emerging technology As part of its innovation programme, the ODI is running a research project to help businesses understand emerging data technologies and whether these can meet their needs. In this project we are specifically looking at emerging technologies around personal data, smart contracts and artificial intelligence.
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Blog 17/10/2017
ODI secures £6m to advance data innovation
- Built environment and housing
- Data ethics and privacy
- Emerging tech and AI
- Innovation
- Open standards and open APIs
- Public administration services
- Cities
- Transport
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Blog 21/07/2017
Invitation to tender: Companies to help make it easier for people to understand UK technology clusters
- Emerging tech and AI
- Public administration services
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Blog 21/10/2015
Data infrastructure technology: are blockchains the answer?
- Data infrastructure
- Emerging tech and AI
- James Smith (Dr)