Unpacking the National Data Library for the UK Tech Sector: A Workshop Series

The UK Government has committed to delivering the National Data Library (NDL) to improve access to high-quality data for research, innovation, and public benefit.  

techUK sees this as a major opportunity to make public sector data more accessible and available for the tech sector, which could lead to a future wave of research-driven innovation. The question persists as to whether using the NDL is the only role for the UK’s tech sector, or whether the sector could also play a foundational role as partners in layers, tooling, and value derived from the NDL. 

To shape a strong, industry-led position on the matter, in a way that supports and builds on the government’s current plans, techUK is convening a three-part workshop series with members.  Through these workshops we will establish the tech sector’s vision for the delivery, access and deployment of the NDL: 

Unpacking the NDL #1: Delivery

10 October @ 10:00 - 11:30

This first workshop will focus on delivery. It will explore what architecture, sandboxes, and models would ideally look like in a way that provides the “pipes,” tooling, and analytics most useful for industry. The discussion will also establish how early industry participation could potentially prove cost-efficient, accelerate timelines, and protect the long-term value of this national asset. 

Unpacking the NDL #2: Access

17 October @ 10:30 - 12:00

This second workshop will focus on access, on what mapping the legal, technical, and licensing challenges that currently stand in the way of frictionless onboarding could look like. Participants will help define what industry thinks “good access” looks like, with potential grounding in FAIR principles and secure access requirements. Participants will also discuss what content and data would be most useful in the NDL. 

Unpacking the NDL #3: Deployment

23 October @ 10:00 - 11:30

This final workshop will focus on deployment, setting out practical routes to nationwide rollout. Topics could include devolved nation pilots, sustainable funding mechanisms, and how the NDL can integrate with wider public and private sector initiatives.