Private sector data access for public good

About private sector data access

Private sector access to public sector data is a complex area. Private sector refers to companies that make a profit. There are different types of private sector organisations which might be involved in research using data, including:

• Companies that fund and set the direction of research, then use the results
• Companies that offer research services, including data analysis, and can be commissioned to do research for other organisations
• Companies that generate data and are interested in exploring public value from connecting this data to public sector data

There is a lot of public good we can gain by enabling appropriate research data access and use for private sector companies. By public good, we mean that there should be some ‘net good’ or demonstrable benefit accruing to the public or a section of the public. This public good can be direct, indirect, immediate, or long-term and can co-exist with private company interest or commercial benefit, although this cannot outweigh the public benefit and neither can be outweighed by risks.

Having clear processes for private sector access to and use of public sector data means that more research and innovation can happen. This allows better focus on activities which support public services.

This is key to Scotland’s Data Strategy for Health and Social Care, which commits to supporting research and innovation by facilitating safe access to health and social care data for industry, innovators and researchers. This is also the focus of the Unlocking the Value of Data programme, which was established by the Scottish Government to inform ethical decision-making in the use of public sector individual data by the private sector for public good.