2026-07-15T17:06:11Z https://api.figshare.com/v2/oai
oai:figshare.com:article/32769735 2026-06-23T10:32:57Z category_28936 category_28942 category_28939 category_28909 category_27100 portal_549 item_type_18 month_year_06_2026
10.5522/04/32769735.v1 https://figshare.com/articles/report/_b_NHS_Secure_Data_Environments_University_Compute_Infrastructure_and_the_UK_s_International_Competitiveness_b_/32769735 https://ndownloader.figshare.com/files/65787117 Hetherington, James James Hetherington Abubakar, Ibrahim Ibrahim Abubakar <![CDATA[<b>NHS Secure Data Environments, University Compute Infrastructure, and the UK’s International Competitiveness</b>]]> Data models, storage and indexing Database systems Data quality Data security and protection Health informatics and information systems NHS and Higher Education secure data environment High performance computing techniques 2026-06-23 2026-06-23 Report 2026 University College London The NHS is consolidating health data access into a smaller number of Secure Data Environments (SDEs). This strategic direction is sound. Reducing data proliferation strengthens cybersecurity, improves governance consistency, and reinforces public trust in the use of health data for research and service improvement.

However, the current implementation presents a structural weakness. Most regional SDEs lack the high-performance computing (HPC) and GPU capability required for modern AI-enabled health research. Where such compute is available, it is typically bundled with commercial cloud services at prices that are four to ten times higher than equivalent capacity available on university-owned infrastructure, and significantly above levels sustainable under NIHR and other public funding streams.

This issue extends beyond academic efficiency. International competitors are integrating secure data access and high-performance compute from the outset. Those that do attract leading AI researchers and major pharmaceutical partnerships. Those that do not lose both. The UK currently risks falling into the latter category. This briefing outlines the structural challenges in the current SDE model, describes the emerging national response and makes international comparisons, and offers system-level recommendations.

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