Research and analysis

Potential economic impact of future smart data use cases

Quantitative research assessing the potential social net present value and GDP impacts of 5 smart data use cases over a 15-year period.

• From: Department for Business and Trade
• Published: 18 March 2026

Documents

Economic analysis: understanding the costs and benefits of smart data use cases

PDF, 1.87 MB, 104 pages

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Details

The Department for Business and Trade (DBT) commissioned the Public Service Consultants (PSC) to complete research that assessed the social net present value and gross domestic product (GDP) impacts of 5 smart data use cases over a 15-year period (2028 to 2043).

The report includes the findings from a mixed-method approach including:

• value chain mapping
• interviews
• a survey
• quantitative modelling

The research concluded that 5 smart data use cases in finance, energy, retail, property and trade could deliver £26.3 billion in social net present value to the UK between 2028 and 2043, while contributing £3.6 billion annually to GDP by 2043 (0.13% growth from 2024 GDP levels).

When these findings are scaled to scheme-level impacts, the analysis suggests 4 smart data schemes could generate £71.2 billion in social net present value from 2028 to 2043, with annual GDP contributions from these smart data schemes reaching £9.6 billion by 2043 (0.34% growth from 2024 GDP levels).

Published 18 March 2026