Charity offers £10m grant to support big data research
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Engineering related research and education charity Lloyd's Register Foundation has offered a conditional grant of £10million over five years to support research by the Alan Turing Institute into the engineering applications of big data. The offer, subject to specific areas of research being finalised, follows the Foundation's Foresight report, examining how big data might impact the safety and performance of engineering assets and infrastructure in such areas as energy, transportation and shipping.
Prof Richard Clegg, pictured, the Foundation's managing director, said: "Our report concludes that, within the next five to 10 years, we are going to witness step changes in sensor technology, data driven intelligent systems, computer science and algorithms for data analysis, impacting all aspects of the business life cycle – from design to manufacturing, maintenance to decommissioning.
"This report sets the high level strategic direction and funding priorities for the Foundation in the field of 'data centric engineering'. Big data is going to bridge the gap from monitoring 'what is' to predicting 'what if?'. The Foundation intends to become a major supporter of international research in the field, partnering with organisations including the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council."
The Foundation's report has identified four priority action areas: technology road mapping; design for data; codes and standards; and
data analytics.
Professor Philip Nelson, chief executive of the EPSRC, said: "We warmly welcome the Foundation's generous grant offer. Big data has huge potential to impact all areas of society and the economy and investment in research will help realise that potential."
