Cyber security breaches survey: 2026/2027
Annual Department for Science, Innovation and Technology survey examining organisations’ experiences of cyber security breaches and attacks, and the impacts of those incidents in 2026/27.
Government research
Evaluations, survey work, qualitative studies and impact assessments commissioned by UK government departments — separated out from the news, and attributed to the agency that carried out the work.
By agency
Evaluation of the UK’s participation in the Copernicus Programme
Interim evaluation sets out early findings on the UK’s participation in the EU Copernicus Earth observation programme since rejoining in 2024, assessing benefits, data use and delivery arrangements to date.
Children's wellbeing online: social media quantitative and qualitative report
Quantitative and qualitative research explores parents’ and children’s views on social media use, potential restrictions and a possible under‑16 ban, assessing wellbeing impacts and public attitudes to online safety measures.
Social media restriction pilots: Qualitative research with 13 to 17-year-olds in the UK
Findings from pilots exploring how social media restrictions affect 13–17-year-olds in the UK, drawing on qualitative interviews and observation to report young people’s experiences, perceived harms, benefits and practical impacts of age-based limits on platforms.
Children’s circumvention behaviours online
Study examining how 11–17-year-olds encounter age assurance online, why some bypass age checks and the ways and reasons they use VPNs, based on qualitative research into young people’s behaviours and motivations.
Mapping of the AI and software security services market
Maps the market for software and AI security services, analysing actors, service types and market structure to inform policy on software and AI security provision and supply‑side capacity.
BDUK GigaHubs Evaluation: Process Review
Process review of the BDUK GigaHubs intervention examines how Hubs under Project Gigabit were delivered, identifying operational lessons, stakeholder roles and barriers to scaling ultrafast broadband rollout.
Future of TV distribution - Assessing the value and alternative uses of DTT spectrum for the future of UK TV distribution
Provides Analysis Mason’s assessment of the value and alternative uses of Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) spectrum, examining implications for the future of UK TV distribution and potential reuse of spectrum.
Future of TV Distribution Stakeholder Forum - papers
Compiles the work, outputs and evidence produced by members of the Future of TV Distribution Stakeholder Forum, including papers and stakeholder submissions on TV distribution and spectrum policy.
AI Scenarios 2030: Helping policymakers plan for the future of AI
Foresight report outlining five plausible AI development scenarios to 2030, intended to help policymakers anticipate risks and opportunities and plan regulatory, economic and societal responses to different AI futures.
Quantum key distribution research report
Study assesses quantum key distribution (QKD) technology and its cybersecurity implications, outlining risks and potential applications for secure communications but does not specify deployment timelines or quantified capability thresholds in the blurb.
Public sector use of biometric voice recognition technology: ethical issues
Outlines ethical issues for public sector use of biometric voice recognition, covering concerns such as accuracy, consent, bias, privacy, misuse and accountability to inform policymakers considering deployment of voice biometrics.
Research with Cryptoasset Investors and Industry Participants
Reports qualitative interviews with cryptoasset investors and industry participants to understand investor behaviour, market engagement, drivers of adoption and industry perspectives relevant to regulatory and tax policy design.
Cyber security sectoral analysis 2026
A sectoral analysis of the UK cyber security industry provides figures on industry size, employment and revenue, mapping market structure and trends to inform policy on sector growth and skills needs.
UK artificial intelligence sectoral analysis survey
Government survey mapping the UK artificial intelligence sector, collecting data on company size, activity, growth, capabilities and barriers to inform industrial strategy and support for AI development across the economy.
Public understanding of vehicle automation terms
Study examines public understanding of terms used to describe vehicle automation and driver-assistance features, identifying which phrases confuse consumers and how terminology affects perceptions of capability and safety.
Age Assurance Data Access Study
Explores data access barriers affecting age-assurance tools’ performance, diagnosing technical and governance issues and proposing potential solutions to improve effectiveness and reliability of online age checks.
Electronic invoicing: SME usage and attitudes
Reports on SMEs’ awareness, use and attitudes towards electronic invoicing, mapping adoption levels, perceived benefits and barriers among small and medium enterprises to inform policy on digitalisation of invoicing.
Evaluation of the NI Cyber AI Hub programme
Evaluates progress of the Cyber‑AI Hub delivered by Queen’s University Belfast, assessing programme delivery, outputs and early impacts on cyber‑AI research, skills development and regional capability in Northern Ireland.
UK design protection review with policy considerations
Examines how UK design protection is used and proposes potential reforms, analysing current practice, gaps and policy options to improve design rights, enforcement and business support.
AI Adoption Research
Analyses how UK businesses adopt AI, the barriers they face and the sectoral impacts of AI deployment to inform policy on adoption, regulation and support for firms.
Cyber security skills in the UK labour market 2025
Analysis maps UK cyber security labour market needs for 2025, detailing skills shortages and vacancy patterns across regions and roles to inform workforce planning and training provision.
How businesses manage access to HMRC online services
Qualitative research with small and mid-sized businesses explores experiences of accessing HMRC online services, focusing on how firms manage logins, user journeys, multi-user access and comprehension of account and credential requirements.
AI Skills for Life and Work: Rapid Evidence Review
Rapid evidence review synthesising existing research for the AI Skills for Life and Work R&D project, identifying key findings on AI skill needs, gaps and implications for education and workplace training strategies.
Evaluation of UK participation in Horizon 2020
Evaluation presents findings on the UK’s participation in the EU Horizon 2020 research programme, covering outcomes and effects of UK involvement in H2020.
Quality and methodology information (QMI): Shared Rural Network
Quality and methodology information explains how Shared Rural Network mobile coverage figures were produced, detailing data sources and methods used to generate coverage statistics.
Evaluation: Inspiration programme
An evaluation of the UK Space Agency’s Inspiration programme, commissioned in 2023, assesses its design, delivery and outcomes for participants and stakeholders to inform future programme decisions.
OPSS research into consumer behaviour on online marketplaces
An independent OPSS study investigates consumer behaviour on online marketplaces, examining how shoppers find, evaluate and purchase products online to inform product safety, enforcement and marketplace regulation.
Research on mapping the AI and software cyber security services market
Government research will map the UK market for AI and software cyber-security services, identifying providers, service types and market structure to inform policy and procurement decisions on securing AI systems and software.
Research on managed service providers 2025
An external study profiles the UK managed service provider market in 2025, setting out market size and the range of services offered to help shape procurement and sector policy for outsourced IT and managed security.