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Details of Grant 

EPSRC Reference: EP/S023305/1
Title: EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Horizon: Creating Our Lives in Data
Principal Investigator: Benford, Professor S
Other Investigators:
Perez Vallejos, Professor E Brooks, Professor LS Smith, Professor AP
McAuley, Professor D Koleva, Professor B Sharples, Professor S
Rodrigues, Professor LT Valstar, Professor MF Watson, Professor N
Lang, Dr AR Bakalis, Professor S
Researcher Co-Investigators:
Project Partners:
5Rights Aerial UK Atkins
B3 Media BBC Bhatia Best Solicitors
Bionical Brain plus British Games Institute (BGI)
Broadway Media Centre Capital One Bank Plc CereProc Ltd
City Arts Nottingham Ltd De Montfort University Defence Science & Tech Lab DSTL
Digital Catapult East Midlands Special Operations Unit Eindhoven University of Technology
Experian Georgia Institute of Technology GlaxoSmithKline plc (GSK)
Institute of Mental Health Integrated Transport Planning Internet Society
Ipsos-MORI IT University of Copenhagen Live Cinema Ltd
Microlise Group National Biomedical Research Unit Nottingham City Council
Nottingham Contemporary Ltd CCAN OLIO Exchange Ltd. Open Data Institute (ODI)
Ordnance Survey PepsiCo Rail Safety & Standards Board
RMIT University Siemens Thales Ltd
The Space Transport Systems Catapult Unilever
University of Sussex World Bank, The XenZone
Department: Horizon Digital Economy Research
Organisation: University of Nottingham
Scheme: Centre for Doctoral Training
Starts: 01 October 2019 Ends: 31 March 2028 Value (£): 6,129,811
EPSRC Research Topic Classifications:
Computer Graphics & Visual. Human-Computer Interactions
Information & Knowledge Mgmt
EPSRC Industrial Sector Classifications:
Information Technologies
Related Grants:
Panel History:
Panel DatePanel NameOutcome
07 Nov 2018 EPSRC Centres for Doctoral Training Interview Panel C – November 2018 Announced
Summary on Grant Application Form
We will train a cohort of 65 PhD students to tackle the challenge of Data Creativity for the 21st century digital economy. In partnership with over 40 industry and academic partners, our students will establish the technologies and methods to enable producers and consumers to co-create smarter products in smarter ways and so establish trust in the use of personal data.

Data is widely recognised by industry as being the 'fuel' that powers the economy. However, the highly personal nature of much data has raised concerns about privacy and ownership that threaten to undermine consumers' trust. Unlocking the economic potential of personal data while tackling societal concerns demands a new approach that balances the ability to innovate new products with building trust and ensuring compliance with a complex regulatory framework. This requires PhD students with a deep appreciation of the capabilities of emerging technology, the ability to innovate new products, but also an understanding of how this can be done in a responsible way.

Our approach to this challenge is one of Data Creativity - enabling people to take control of their data and exercise greater agency by becoming creative consumers who actively co-create more trusted products.

Driven by the needs of industry, public sector and third sector partners who have so far committed £1.6M of direct and £2.8M of in kind funding, we will explore multiple sectors including Fast Moving Consumer Goods and Food; Creative Industries; Health and Wellbeing; Personal Finance; and Smart Mobility and how it can unlock synergies between these. Our partners also represent interests in enabling technologies and the cross cutting concerns of privacy and security.

Each student will work with industry, public, third sector or international partners to ensure that their research is grounded in real user needs, maximising its impact while also enhancing their future employability. External partners will be involved in PhD co-design, supervision, training, providing resources, hosting placements, setting industry-led challenge projects and steering.

Addressing the challenges of Data Creativity demands a multi-disciplinary approach that combines expertise in technology development and human-centred methods with domain expertise across key sectors of the economy. Our students will be situated within Horizon, a leading centre for Digital Economy research and a vibrant environment that draws together a national research Hub, CDT and a network of over 100 industry, academic and international partners. We currently provide access to a network of >80 potential supervisors, ranging from leading Professors to talented early career researchers. This extends to academic partners at other Universities who will be involved in co-hosting and supervising our students, including the Centre for Computing and Social Responsibility at De Montfort University.

We run an integrated four-year training programme that features: a bespoke core covering key topics in Future Products, Enabling Technologies, Innovation and Responsibility; optional advanced specialist modules; internship and international exchanges; industry-led challenge projects; training in research methods and professional skills; modules dedicated to the PhD proposal, planning and write up; and many opportunities for cross-cohort collaboration including our annual industry conference, retreat and summer schools. Our Impact Fund supports students in deepening the impact of their research. Horizon has EDI considerations embedded throughout, from consideration of equal opportunities in recruitment to ensuring that we deliver an inclusive environment which supports diversity of needs and backgrounds in the student experience.

Key Findings
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Potential use in non-academic contexts
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Impacts
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Summary
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Further Information:  
Organisation Website: http://www.nottingham.ac.uk