Research Data Scotland funding query: FOI release

Information requested

A breakdown and a total of all funding Research Data Scotland has received since its inception and what the funding was for.

Response

Research Data Scotland (RDS) is funded by the Scottish Government through grant agreements.

Please find below a table with funding provided per year.

Year	Money received in year
2021-22	£3.4m
2022-23	£1.8m
2023-24	£3.8m
2024-25	£4.2m + £78,500*
2025-26	£2.5m
Total	£15.7m

*Additional funding (Appendix 6)

We have also provided you with the following information:

• Appendix 1 – grant letter extract for 2021-2022 showing expected outcomes for grant funding
• Appendix 2 – grant letter extract for 2022-2023 showing expected outcomes for grant funding
• Appendix 3– grant letter extract for 2023-2024 showing expected outcomes for grant funding
• Appendix 4 – grant letter extract for 2024-2025 showing expected outcomes for grant funding
• Appendix 5 – grant letter extract for 2025-2026 showing expected outcomes for grant funding
• Appendix 6 – additional funding for pandemic data.

Appendix 1 Paragraph 2.4 extracted from Grant Letter 2021-2022

The main objectives/expected outcomes of the Grant are:

1. The setting up and development of RDS as a national research support service helping researchers to find and access data
2. Support RDS to deliver its strategic objectives as stated in the Outline and Full Business Cases
3. Provide sustainable governance and management structures which allow RDS to work towards its key outcomes within the initial 5 years of operation
4. Provide suitable level of resources, including staffing and expertise to ensure RDS establishes itself as a credible, sustainable and trusted organisation

Appendix 2 Paragraph 2.4 extracted from Grant Letter 2022-2023

The main objectives/expected outcomes of the Grant are:

1. Support the operation and consolidation of RDS as a national research support service helping researchers to find and access data.
2. Support RDS to deliver its strategic objectives as stated in its business plan for 2022/2023
3. Provide sustainable governance and management structures which allow RDS to work towards its key outcomes and objectives in line with its Strategy.
4. Provide suitable level of resources, including staffing and expertise to ensure RDS establishes itself as a credible, sustainable and trusted organisation.
5. Develop a funding strategy to supplement the funding from RDS core founding funders to ensure RDS can deliver long-term transformation to the way we access and used data for research in Scotland.

Appendix 3 Paragraph 2.4 extracted from Grant Letter 2023-2024

The main objectives/expected outcomes of the Grant are:

1. Support the operation and consolidation of RDS as a national research support service helping researchers to find and access data
2. Support RDS to deliver its strategic objectives as stated in its mission, strategy and business plan 2023/24, and more specifically help RDS with completing the transition from the initial setting up and establishment phase to the implementation phase and becoming a delivery focussed organisation
3. Provide sustainable governance and management structures which allow RDS to work towards its key outcomes and objectives in line with its mission, strategy and business plan 2023/24
4. Provide suitable level of resources, including staffing and expertise to ensure RDS establishes itself as a credible, sustainable and trusted organisation.
5. Develop a sustainable funding strategy to supplement the core funding from the Scottish Government to ensure RDS can deliver long-term transformation to the way we access and used data for research in Scotland
6. Coordination and production of communications through engagement with the ScottishGovernment and other delivery partners to develop consistent and appropriate messaging, as and when required
7. Work collaboratively with Scottish Government and partner organisations as and when required and/or where assistance is requested or considered appropriate

Appendix 4 Paragraph 2.4 extracted from Grant Letter 2024-2025

The main objectives/expected outcomes of the Grant are:

1. Support the operation and consolidation of RDS as a national research support service helping researchers to find and access data
2. Support RDS to deliver its strategic objectives as stated in its mission, strategy and business plan 2024/25, and more specifically help RDS with completing the transition from the initial setting up and establishment phase to the implementation phase and becoming a delivery focussed organisation
3. Provide sustainable governance and management structures which allow RDS to work towards its key outcomes and objectives in line with its mission, strategy and business plan 2024/25
4. Provide suitable level of resources, including staffing and expertise to ensure RDS establishes itself as a credible, sustainable and trusted organisation
5. Develop a sustainable funding strategy to supplement the core funding from the Scottish Government to ensure RDS can deliver long-term transformation to the way we access and used data for research in Scotland
6. Coordination and production of communications through engagement with the Scottish Government and other delivery partners to develop consistent and coordinated messaging, as and when required, in line with the agreed communications protocols
7. Work together with the Scottish Government on the implementation of the agreed recommendations of the Gateway Review held in 2023 any follow ups
8. Work collaboratively with Scottish Government and partner organisations as and when required and/or where assistance is requested or considered

Appendix 5 Paragraph 2.4 extracted from Grant Letter 2025-2026

The main objectives/expected outcomes of the Grant are:

1. Support the operation and consolidation of RDS as a national research support service helping researchers to find and access data
2. Support RDS to deliver its strategic objectives as stated in its mission, strategy and business plan 2025/26, and more specifically help RDS with completing the transition from the initial setting up and establishment phase to the implementation phase and becoming a delivery focussed organisation
3. Provide sustainable governance and management structures which allow RDS to work towards its key outcomes and objectives in line with its mission, strategy and business plan 2025/26
4. Provide suitable level of resources, including staffing and expertise to ensure RDS establishes itself as a credible, sustainable and trusted organisation
5. Develop a sustainable funding strategy to supplement the core funding from the Scottish Government to ensure RDS can deliver long-term transformation to the way we access and used data for research in Scotland
6. Coordination and production of communications through engagement with the Scottish Government and other delivery partners to develop consistent and coordinated messaging, as and when required, in line with the agreed communications protocols
7. Work together with the Scottish Government on the implementation of the agreed recommendations of the Gateway Review held in 2023 any follow ups
8. Work collaboratively with Scottish Government and partner organisations as and when required and/or where assistance is requested or considered

Appendix 6 Extracts page 1 and 2 from Commission on Data for Pandemic Preparedness

£78,500 funding is available for the following;

• A short term delivery team [e.g. service designer (25 days), a business analyst (30 days) and a subject matter expert (15 days), plus some time from a project manager (25 days) and SRO with drafting report (15 days)].
• Public engagement – running three sessions with a public panel to test views.
• Relevant legal costs.

Deliverables:

• Provide an assessment of current and best practice of an aligned and efficient data access approvals systems for research and analytics from Scotland and elsewhere; Provide a set of recommendations to the Scottish Data for Pandemic Preparedness Committee Oversight Group (SDPPCOG) on the following:
• Description of the structure, function and governance for an aligned and efficient data access approvals system for Scotland; 1 Standing Committee on Pandemic Preparedness: Interim Report (www.gov.scot) 3
• The work required to implement such an approvals process including costings, resources, risks and challenges;
• How to manage applications for use of data for artificial intelligence and other data driven technologies;
• Access to data by industry;
• The role of public engagement in the improved data access processes;
• Any other additional pieces of work that should be considered.

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