The SafePod Network – call for Safepod applications (Deadline 7th June 2019)

The SafePod Network (SPN) is a new investment from the Economic and Social Research Council. The main objective of SPN is to improve public benefit research by supporting, strengthening and widening remote access to research datasets through the provision and operation of an independent network of safe setting facilities, known as SafePods®. These facilities will be based at higher education institutions and other UKRI funded organisations across the UK.  

SPN will comprise of the following:   

• A network of SafePods based across the UK
• A web application to provide information about the work of SPN and for booking SafePods
• Policies, procedures and assurances for the operation and management of SPN and SafePods
• A firewall service to provide the security boundaries for SafePod services
• A CCTV service to enable Data Centres to view and monitor activity within a SafePod
• A dedicated User Support Service to assist stakeholders with SPN enquiries
• An Advisory Board to plan and make decisions on the long-term objectives of SPN.

The major benefit of a SafePod to a researcher is that they will be able to have local access to project datasets, without the need for long distance travel to a dedicated safe setting provided by a Data Centre.  

For a participating Data Centre, SPN provides a low cost secure platform to widen access to their datasets across the UK for research purposes. A SafePod design and their policies and procedures for management and operation are standardised. This means that a single accreditation for use of a SafePod by a Data Centre is all that is required in order for them to accredit the full SafePod Network.  

A SafePod is designed to replicate existing traditional safe settings and security features include door control access, CCTV camera system and a separate secure storage area for necessary IT hardware and equipment.  No datasets are held within a SafePod.  Instead a secure connection is provided from a SafePod to a Data Centre for a researcher to view and analyse their project datasets.

For further information click here

All UEL academics interested in this opportunity must first discuss with their Director of research as well as the Research and Development Support team by contacting reds@uel.ac.uk