Digital technologies offer solutions to a wealth of the world’s problems.

This includes solutions in the spheres of health and well-being, business growth and development, criminal justice, and education. Digital technologies are also key to the continuing successes of the creative and media industries in the UK.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology, through harnessing big data sets, may offer opportunities for earlier detection of health conditions. Digital initiatives can provide new ways to connect people with health and social care professionals. Assistive technologies and devices can enable people to live independent and dignified lives, reducing their need for long-term care. Technology can shape the future of production across all sectors, whilst AI offers a range of solutions to enable businesses to prioritise strategic work. Technology can be harnessed to monitor those at risk of offending, or victimisation, and can play a key role in public protection and supporting desistance from crime. AI further offers a range of solutions to enable businesses to prioritise strategic work. Technology can also provide new ways to share and develop knowledge both through traditional and new contexts for education.

Research and Knowledge Exchange can enable the development of new technologies and find the best ways for new and old technologies to be tested, developed, and implemented in a wide variety of settings whilst working closely with businesses that might have created or co-created the tech, and with the end users of this technology.

Such technologies, however, also bring with them significant ethical issues and moral dilemmas. Researchers will be key in identifying and addressing such issues both in the development and use of technology.

Find out more about our work