Data
We unlock the value in the vast amounts of data that are being collected in all areas of research, industry and society.
Newcastle Data
We are home to a large community of academics, researchers, students and partners working in data. There is great strength and depth to our work in data across our University including:
- biomedical informatics
- data for manufacturing
- data visualisation
- spatial analytics
- streaming data modelling
- text in a digital age
- regulation of data driven technologies
National Innovation Centre for Data
We also lead the National Innovation Centre for Data (NICD). This unique £30m facility accelerates innovation by delivering technical and practical data skills into regional, national and international organisations.
Our research, teaching and external engagement are fully integrated to deliver the maximum benefit to students, the economy and society.
We are focused on using data to help solve real-world problems. By creating collaborative communities we:
- give people opportunities
- transfer knowledge
- introduce new activities
- generate impact

We're committed to provide an inclusive, welcoming environment for all staff and students. That's regardless of disability, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation or age.
With industry partners, we have secured funds to widen access to data science and artificial intelligence (AI) training. Over the next three years, we plan to:
- offer scholarships to support students from underrepresented groups
- introduce new postgraduate degrees in areas of industry need offering integrated work experience
- offer a mentoring network comprising senior leaders in data science from underrepresented groups
The mentoring will be available through the recruitment, study and progression phases.
Find out more about our University’s commitment to social justice
Our Education for Life strategy aims to provide an outstanding educational experience. One that's rooted in strong disciplines and enhanced by a broad range of activities. In Data, we have a number of initiatives in place to bring research and teaching together. Examples include:
- MSc Data Science – created in collaboration with high profile industry leaders. It addresses a skills shortage in data analytics. Our School of Computing and School of Mathematics, Statistics and Physics deliver this. They also deliver the MSc Data Science with Specialisation in Statistics.
- Degree Apprenticeship MSc Digital and Technology Solutions (Data Analytics) – as part of our role in the UK-wide Institute of Coding. We have developed this two-year part time course. It upskills practising professionals in current and evolving issues of data analytics, including:
- data management and visualisation
- big data analysis
- statistical approaches to data
- machine learning
Vehicles for our research, teaching and engagement in data include:
- Newcastle Data
- Centre for Doctoral Training in Geospatial Systems
- Centre for Doctoral Training in Cloud Computing for Big Data
- National Innovation Centre for Data
- School of Computing
- School of Mathematics, Statistics and Physics
Newcastle Helix
The Newcastle Helix site brings together academia, the public sector, communities, and business. We are creating a global centre for urban innovation in the heart of the city. The site hosts:
- The National Innovation Centre for Data
- The Catalyst – a building designed for collaboration and innovation in the data space. SMEs, corporates, researchers and innovators co-located
- The Urban Observatory – thousands of environmental data streams curated and made available to inform improved planning
- The Urban Sciences Building – as well as being home to the School of Computing, the building itself is a laboratory. Innovative infrastructure and 4,000+ sensors give new insights to digitally enabled urban sustainability
- Professor Paul Watson – FREng. Prof of Computer Science
- Professor Nick Wright – Turing Fellow, School of Engineering
- Professor Rachel Franklin – Professor of Geographical Analysis
- Professor Anil Wipat – Professor of Integrative Bioinformatics
- Professor Jenny Richards – Joseph Cowen Professor of English Literature
- Professor Lilian Edwards – Professor of Law, Innovation & Society
- Professor Nick Holliman - Professor of Visualization
- Professor Darren Wilkinson – Professor of Stochastic Modelling and Streaming data modelling
- Professor Phil James – Professor of Urban Data
- Professor Paul Burton – Professor of Data Science for Health
- Professor Steve Caughey – Director, National Innovation Centre for Data
- Barry Hodgson – Director of Strategy, National Innovation Centre for Data
We are members and partners in a wide range of data-related networks such as:
- University partner of the Alan Turing institute – the National Institute for Data Science and Artificial Intelligence
- National Centre for Cyber Security Academic Centre of Excellence in Cyber Security Research (ACE-CSR)
- founding member of the Institute of Coding, a £20M industry-academic joint effort to boost future digital skills
- National Innovation Centre for Data
- Red Hat - a global provider of enterprise open source solutions
- HM Government Department for Transport Science Advisory Council