Hosted by King's College London, this half-day event focuses on the transformative role of data in research, policymaking, and innovation. Bringing together researchers, policymakers, educators, and data professionals, the symposium discusses the significance, challenges, and opportunities associated with the National Data Library - a UK government initiative aiming to generate greater benefit from public data.

Invited talks will delve into the limitations imposed by outdated infrastructure and systems, which can hinder effective data sharing and use, and discuss the role the National Data Library will play in updating this landscape. Sessions will also examine the pressing need for robust data privacy measures to protect sensitive information in an increasingly digital and AI-driven landscape. Furthermore, equitable access to data is emphasized as vital for ensuring inclusivity and fostering societal advancements. We will also explore how AI technologies could enhance data utility while navigating these challenges.

The event will culminate in a panel to propose actionable solutions for modernizing systems, safeguarding privacy, and promoting fair access – and how this should inform implementation of the National Data Library initiative. In all, participants will develop perspectives on how to shape and make use of the National Data Library for public benefit - both at King's and beyond.

The event is organised by the King’s Centre for Data Futures, demonstrating its commitment to addressing critical barriers and empowering research, policy development, and AI-driven progress for the benefit of society.

The event will take place both in person and online.

Agenda:

13:00 – 13:15: Arrivals, coffee

13:15 – 13:30: Welcome from the organisers – the National Data Library state of play (Elena Simperl, Professor of Computer Science at King’s College London; Director of Research at the Open Data Institute)

13:30 – 13:45: Data wish list (Anastasia Bektimirova, Head of Science and Technology, The Entrepreneurs Network)

13:45 – 14:45: Getting to NDL alpha

• Chair: Roger Taylor, Impact Lead, Centre for Data Futures, King’s College London

Panelists:

• Tom Nixon, Managing Director of Applied AI at Faculty
• Louise Burke, Chief Executive Officer at the Open Data Institute
• Richard Dobson, Professor of Medical Informatics at King's College London & UCL
• Anastasia Bektimirova, Head of Science and Technology, The Entrepreneurs Network

14:45 – 15:00: Break

15:00 – 15:15: Ensuring the NDL is AI-ready (Andrew Newman, Open Data Institute)

15:15 – 15:45: Leveraging AI-ready data for the NDL: the PharosAI project (Lucie Burgess, Chief Operating Officer and Co-Founder at PharosAI)

15:45 – 16:45: Building an NDL user ecosystem

• Chair: Suha Mohamed, Innovation Director, Centre for Data Futures, King’s College London

Panelists:

• Matt Penn, Head of Scientific Computing Infrastructure, e-Research, King's College London
• Martine Wauben, Head of Data for London at Greater London Authority
• Liz Brandt, Chief Executive Officer, Ctrl-Shift
• Richard Gilham, AI Supercomputing Infrastructure Specialist, Bristol Centre for Supercomputing, University of Bristol

16:45 – 17:00: Conclusions and closing words from the organisers