John Hand

DIGITAL ECONOMY

WHY DIGITAL ECONOMY NOW?

› Advances from ICT and the impact it can have is a major contributor to national economies and wealth

› ICT industry has changed: 20% of R&D is about new technology 80% is about applying it

› Delivery of the Digital Economy is not just about computer science

› Highlights from International Review, IRC Review and World Bank report point to the opportunities.

WHAT IS THE DIGITAL ECONOMY?

› The transformational impact that ICT has on every single aspect of business government and society.

› Processes, mechanisms and facilities for capture and manipulation of knowledge, understanding:

Why For whom What are the effects

› The Digital Economy will facilitate a new community of researchers with a user driven focus and multidisciplinary approach to research in the Digital Economy

EXAMPLES

› Research in the DE space will be defined by the effect that the research has this might be its understanding why its needed and who for: Increased embedding of travel functions

into Mobile phones. Issues around music in the creative

industries, what other paradigm shifts are possible – both +ve and –ve.

Realising the full impact of new opportunities through ICT means accessing all of society – what are the barriers and considerations?

MULTIDISCIPLINARY APPROACH

› RCUK Cross Council Priority

› Engaging a broad range of disciplines

› EPSRC, MRC, ESRC and AHRC

› Target other partners including TSB

› Consider other routes to engage

BUILDING ON KEY STRENGTHS

› International Review identified ‘World Class’ ICT research Community.

› Sound base in multidisciplinary projects in the ICT area through IRCs Review identified outstanding research Strong links with industry Cohort of researchers who ‘think’ in a different

way.

› Investment in developing area of Complexity

› Digital Economy will take this to the next level across a broad range of disciplines.

WHAT WILL WE DO?

Large Scale, User Driven Multidisciplinary Research Hubs

PEOPLEUp to 5 Doctoral Training CentresUser and Cross Discipline Focus

Fellowship Signposting

Engagement with ‘New Industries’

Underpinning ResearchSignposting Through

Responsive Mode

Pump Priming Activity

£53M

£25M

£25M

Healthcare TransportCreative Industries