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Photo: University of Dundee
Today, the Scottish Safe Haven Network (SSHN) becomes the newest recipient of the Scottish Funding Council’s (SFC) Research and Innovation Shared Services Collaboration Fund.
Established by the Scottish Government’s Chief Scientist Office and now supported by Research Data Scotland, the Scottish Safe Haven Network connects the organisations behind Scotland’s secure data infrastructure. The SSHN becomes the fifth recipient of the fund following last year’s announcement receiving just under £230,000 from SFC.
The project is led by the University of Edinburgh, working with the University of Dundee and Research Data Scotland. It aims to create a shared services model for accessing data for research in line with the Scottish Government’s strategy for health and social care.
By making Scotland a more attractive proposition for inward investment from UK Research and Innovation, charities and industry, the initiative will also help to improve the financial sustainability of Scottish universities.
Higher and Further Education Minister Ben Macpherson said:
“The world-leading research undertaken in Scotland plays a key role in addressing a number of social, economic and environmental challenges both locally and internationally.
“The Scottish Safe Haven Network is an example of this work, and the investment provided through the Fund will make it easier for researchers to access vital health and social care data. This will help accelerate medical research that can improve treatments, services and outcomes for people across Scotland.”
Helen Cross, Director of Research and Innovation at the Scottish Funding Council, said:
“Our Shared Services Collaboration Fund is a new way of supporting Scottish universities to work together for efficiency and sustainability.
Streamlining the flow of information between partners within the Safe Haven Network will bring real and tangible benefits for medical research in Scotland”
“It’s great to be able to support such close and pioneering collaborations and I look forward to seeing the project progress.”
Kathy Harrison, DataLoch Programme Lead, University of Edinburgh, said:
“We are delighted to secure this funding, which will allow us to jointly work towards a single application process for researchers seeking detailed, de-identified health data from across Scotland. Once complete, this project will greatly reduce duplication of effort while retaining high standards of data security.”
