The value proposition

Transcription

1 The value proposition of the Official Statistics Research Community in the field of Big Data Martin Karlberg, Eurostat 1

2 The Horizon 2020 (H2020) research framework programme The biggest EU Research and Innovation programme ever Nearly 80 billion of funding available over 7 years (2014 to 2020) Horizon 2020 launched with 15 billion over the first two years ( )

3 So... where are the statistics calls? official statistics is omnipresent in evidence-based policymaking but for precisely that reason (not being a policy itself, but rather supporting various policies) there's no H2020 slot for official statistics In early 2014, Eurostat did indicate potentially interesting calls: Global Systems Science (GSS) reconciliation of various data sources to render coherent narratives Training and educating Data Scientists development university curricula, and professional training programmes

4 So... did this result in any statistics projects? Numerous "Big Data" projects in Horizon 2020, but so far Problem: Official Statistics related projects are "eligible everywhere, but successful nowhere" Out-competed by "policy-related" research

5 Solution(?): Make the case for "Official Statistics Big Data Research" So what's the "value proposition" for Official Statistics research? Novel Big Data methods/sources Official Statistics research assets Official Statistics research projects Better Big Data research projects Better (and more cost-effective) Official Statistics Better evidence More informed citizens & policymakers Martin Karlberg, Eurostat 5

6 Thus: two main strands I. Bringing expertise into general "Big Data" projects II. Conducting "Official Statistics research projects which incorporate novel methods & sources Martin Karlberg, Eurostat 6

7 I: So which "expertise" do we bring? Representativity/validity vs. bias/selectivity Variability Consistency Data! Privacy For inspiration: see e.g. Statistics and Science A Report of the London Workshop on the Future of the Statistical Sciences Martin Karlberg, Eurostat 7

8 II. Official Statistics Big Data projects? What? Comparatively well known; various possible pilots discussed extensively (e.g. Big Data Action Plan 1.0) Why? Quality: improved Official Statistics (timeliness, relevance (e.g. granularity), accuracy) but this requires that the case of Official Statistics (as a cornerstone for much of the "evidence") is made. Efficiency/cost reductions Synergy: Improved OS may serve multiple policy areas Martin Karlberg, Eurostat 8

9 Horizon 2020 is competitive! Know your audience! "Official Statistics" is unknown to the scientific community at large; consider the perspective of "scientific generalists"! Setting ourselves apart: Everybody does evidence-based policymaking nowadays "Reliable Evidence for Society" might be a good case to make. Reflect on alternative perspectives for Official statistics (Example: social inclusion in the age of social media) Should we bring up high-profile failures? Martin Karlberg, Eurostat 9

10 H2020: A reminder it is still up to you! Some calls are still open, others will come in NSIs, universities and other members of the Official Statistics research community should study the calls (do not limit yourself to the research lines identified by Eurostat there could be hidden gems elsewhere!) build consortia submit proposals! Multidisciplinary consortia are likelier to succeed modes Valencia January

11 Questions? Comments? Ideas? How to set official statistics research apart? What do we bring to the table? How to convince "scientific generalists" or other communities of the usefulness of official statistics research? Martin Karlberg, Eurostat 11