Mae'r cynnwys hwn ar gael yn Saesneg yn unig.
ADR Wales has been awarded almost £26million to continue its ground-breaking work using administrative data to inform public policy and improve lives across Wales.
The funding will run from 2026-2031 and was officially announced today by the Rt Hon Mark Drakeford MS during his address to delegates at the ADR UK Conference in Cardiff.
Following the announcement earlier this summer of a £168 million UK-wide investment into ADR UK (Administrative Data Research UK), the Cabinet Secretary confirmed the sum of funds that will be awarded to support research and data initiatives led by the team in Wales. Delivered by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) through the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), the investment will support the work of ADR UK’s partnerships across all four nations from 2026 to 2031.
In his speech, the Cabinet Secretary commended the impact of ADR Wales’ research to date and reaffirmed the support of both the Welsh Government and UK Government’s ongoing commitment to data-led decision-making.
Addressing delegates, Rt Hon Mark Drakeford MS said: “The work of ADR Wales and the SAIL Databank is vital, not only in enabling access to anonymised data, but in ensuring that ethical standards are upheld and public trust is maintained.
“I am excited by the opportunities renewed investment opens up, not just for Wales, but for the UK as a whole. It enables us to work collaboratively across governments, sectors, and disciplines to unlock the full potential of administrative data for public good.”
The Cabinet Secretary reaffirmed the Welsh Government’s strong support for ADR Wales and the value of using data to drive more informed, effective policy. As a key partner in the programme, the Welsh Government will continue working closely with academic colleagues to ensure that research is aligned with Wales’s policy priorities and delivers meaningful impact.
ADR Wales is a key component of the ADR UK programme, bringing together researchers from Welsh Government, Swansea University, and Cardiff University. The team works collaboratively to generate insights using deidentified administrative data across areas including education, health, housing, and the economy.
Speaking of the announcement of funding to ADR Wales, Stephanie Howarth, ADR Wales Co Director said: “We are delighted to receive this renewed support, which will allow us to build on the progress we’ve made and continue delivering data-driven insights that make a tangible difference to people’s lives. This funding ensures we can further strengthen the partnership between academia and government to address the challenges facing Wales today and into the future.”
The renewed investment will allow ADR Wales to deepen its current research, expand into new policy areas, and continue to strengthen the vital collaboration between government and academia.
Speaking at the time of the announcement of renewed funding to ADR UK, Dr Emma Gordon, Director of ADR UK, said: “We are delighted that DSIT, UKRI and ESRC have confirmed their ongoing support for our vital data linking and research programme.
“This commitment will ensure the expertise, infrastructure and momentum we have developed since we formed in 2018 will continue to expand for the benefit of all UK nations. We look forward to continuing our support and funding for trusted research environments, delivering more important linked datasets for research, and growing our network of accredited researchers to generate unique insights that inform policy change for public good.”
More information on the ADR UK investment can be found here.
This news article originally appeared on the ADR Wales website.