Achievements & milestones

September 2024

International Population Data Linkage Network (IPDLN) Conference takes place in Chicago with around 100 researchers across the partnership present.
The largest-ever cohort of ADR UK research fellows begin their fellowships – project pages are published between September and February.

Launch of Census 2021 Comprehensive Microdata and Education Outcomes Linkage dataset – Phase 2 in Northern Ireland.
ADR Scotland publishes a landmark report into kinship care.

Mid-term evaluation finds ADR UK is a high-impact data linkage investment, returning just over £5 of benefits for every £1 spent.
ADR UK holds the autumn Researcher Symposium on education.
The Connecting Society podcast launches.
Cross-Government Income Administrative Dataset launches in Northern Ireland.
ADR England Research Community Catalysts (Children at Risk of Poor Outcomes and Youth Transitions) launch and release first reports (November–January).
Office for National Statistics (ONS) hosts Research Capability 2024.
ADR Scotland research on policing in the pandemic is exhibited at UKRI’s Parliamentary Reception.

First researchers in England and Wales gain access to Data First: Cross-Justice System dataset.
Multiple ADR UK-funded projects across the UK receive recognition in the ONS Research Excellence Awards.
The 10th project goes live in the ONS Secure Research Service (SRS) using Education and Child Health Insights from Linked Data (ECHILD).

ADR UK runs a record number of in-person and virtual training courses (throughout 2025).
Cancer Research UK announces £10 million Cancer Data Driven Detection programme, which ADR UK is directly supporting by funding research exploring cancer inequalities in Wales.
ADR Wales hosts the annual gathering of ADR UK PhD students at Cardiff University.
The Northern Ireland Public Data Panel holds its first Data Diialogue.
ONS Research Excellence Series starts with a presentation from three ADR UK research fellows.
All-Party Group on Policy and Public Data established in ADR Northern Ireland. It provides a forum for discussion around data linkage for research and policymaking.

ADR UK publishes a milestone report with NatCen exploring care experiences across the UK.
Love Data Week takes place with a joint cross-partnership campaign showcasing impact case studies.
The Northern Administrative Data for Policy Hub officially launches, organised by ADR UK research fellows.
ADR UK's work recognised in the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change's report: Governing in the Age of AI: Building Britain’s National Data Library.

The SafePod Network opens applications for institutions to install the newly-launched SafePoint.
The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology provides ADR UK programme with an Amber-Green rating, confirming strong progress towards strategic goals and a continued focus needed for long-term success.
ADR Northern Ireland Poverty Roundtable continues to develop a collective voice on the power of data to better understand and combat poverty.
ADR UK-funded project exploring synthetic data publishes report: The role of synthetic data in research: Benefits, costs and practical insights from data owners and trusted research environments experts.
ADR Scotland hosts a Data with Impact event focused on adult social care.

ADR UK presents at the launch of the new HM Revenue & Customs Areas of Research Interest.
The Department for Education launches new Areas of Research Interest.
The Research Accreditation Service is replaced by the People & Projects Service (PPS) and Project Accreditation Service for the SRS (PASS).
The 70th project using the Longitudinal Education Outcomes dataset goes live in the ONS SRS.
ADR UK-funded project exploring public understanding of and attitudes to synthetic data findings are published.
ADR Scotland hosts an away day for early career researchers.

ADR UK researchers participate in Pint of Science events across the four nations.
A synthetic data workshop organised by ADR UK brings together government and academic decision-makers, alongside the launch of a new Learning Hub page explaining synthetic data.
Scotland Talks Data public panel releases its first impact report.
The Service Leavers Database – Scotland, becomes available for researchers.

The ADR England Public Insights Panel celebrates its one-year anniversary.
ADR UK holds the summer Researcher Symposium: Care experienced children and young people.
ADR UK was invited to the House of Lords Social Mobility Policy Committee to discuss the opportunities offered by administrative data.
ADR UK brings together researchers from three perspectives on synthetic data to present a session at the IASSIST conference in Bristol.

The second ADR UK summer intern begins their internship.
ADR UK sponsors a session at the Royal Economic Society Conference showcasing findings from the Wage & Employment Dynamics project.
ADR UK recognised in the UK's new Modern Industrial Strategy, published by the Department for Business and Trade.
Welsh Government publishes guidance for researchers on access to Welsh Government microdata.

ADR UK confirms a five-year funding extension to 2031, with a £168 million investment from the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology.
ADR Wales makes HMRC Pay-As-You-Earn (PAYE) Income data available in the SAIL Databank.
HMRC publishes Research Future Strategy, with funding and support from ADR UK.

The ADR UK Conference 2025 is hosted by ADR Wales in Cardiff, marking a year of major progress across the UK research data landscape.
Dr Emma Gordon, Director of ADR UK, gives a keynote address at the Health Data Forum Global Hybrid Summit: Data-Driven Health Revolution.