The UK Research and Innovation Digital Economy (DE) Theme is led by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) in partnership with the AHRC and ESRC, and supports research to rapidly realise the transformational impact of digital technologies on aspects of community life, cultural experiences, future society, and the economy.
The EPSRC DE Theme brings together a unique community of researchers from diverse disciplines, including social science, engineering, computer science, the arts and medical research; and users; including people, businesses and government; to study, understand and find solutions to real problems.
The theme currently has four priority areas:
- Trust, identity, privacy and security
- Digital business models
- The internet of things for a service economy
- Content creation and consumption.
Since 2008 the EPSRC has invested £150m in:
- Building the capacity and expertise needed to realise the Digital Economy through Digital Economy Research Hubs/Next Stage Centres of Excellence.
- Training a new generation of digital economy researchers through a network of Centres for Doctoral Training (CDTs).
- Research Network Plus Awards in four challenge areas, which aim to bring together new research communities to identify, prioritise and develop future research challenges in the digital economy.
- Funding a portfolio of research which crosses disciplinary boundaries.