Essex Blogs15 December 2025

IADS newsletter December 2025

Institute for Analytics and Data Science

As 2025 draws to a close, IADS - the Institute for Analytics and Data Science - is pleased to share some of the highlights of the incredible work that has shaped the Institute over the past year. From research and partnerships to public engagement and real-world impact, these stories reflect the collective efforts of our fellows.

Tackling real-world challenges through high-impact data science engagement

Website of Data Study Report IADS contributed to national efforts addressing real-world data challenges, including co-authoring a new report on London Transport Optimisation through the Alan Turing Institute’s Data Study Group, the UK’s national institute for data science and AI. IADS members also participated as panellists in public events such as Suffolk Unlocked, where discussions focused on practical issues surrounding AI use and adoption in business environments.

A good year for funding and high-quality research outputs

During 2025, the Institute secured over £2 million in funding for 19 projects spanning data-driven decision making, demand prediction models, machine learning out-of-distribution methods, and real-time threat detection.

IADS also recorded a strong year in research publications, with over 20 papers published in Q1 journals across data science, cybersecurity, AI, IoT systems and applied linguistics. Outputs included new methods for IoT threat detection, dynamic routing for intelligent transport, 6G authentication schemes, UAV communication security, and explainable intrusion-detection models. Additional publications covered risk assessment frameworks for healthcare systems, information cybersecurity management, and AI-based vulnerability detection. Research in innovation policy, digital governance, smart specialisation, and organisational strategy further broadened the Institute’s academic output this year. Research from IADS also contributed to an award-winning paper developed with European collaborators.

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Amplifying national and international presence through talks, events and research engagement

Marta Fernandez De Arroyabe Arranz and Sheri Markose IADS increased the University of Essex national and international visibility through invited talks and participation in high-profile events, including contributions to Language and Society Scotland, CYBERUK, the RISCS Annual Conference, and invited seminars on cybersecurity, AI adoption, and dynamic consent. IADS members also strengthened global engagement by taking on leadership roles, including election to chair the IFIP Working Group 11.14 on Secure Software. Partnership development progressed through collaboration with LAMAD on a joint laboratory initiative and participation in activities with CIRCE and other international research networks. The Institute also contributed expertise to the national Digital Pound Advisory Group, informing future decisions about secure digital finance infrastructure and data governance.

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Nurturing early-career excellence and emerging research leaders

Elton Sbruzzi looking out to the right IADS early-career researchers played a central role in shaping IADS activities this year. They co-organised the Alan Turing AI UK Fringe Workshop on Trustworthy and Energy-Efficient Machine Learning, and led an interdisciplinary early-career event during Data Science Week focused on collaboration and industry engagement. IADS researchers also presented emerging work on cybersecurity, data protection, and trustworthy IoT at a Vision Vault Wednesday session, bringing together students and researchers for discussion on digital futures. In addition, the Institute contributed to the ODOS Programme by presenting sustainable AI research to visiting students from Thailand as part of a government-funded development initiative. IADS additionally celebrated the recognition of a visiting researcher selected as a finalist in British Council’s Study UK Alumni Awards in Brazil, highlighting the global reach and ongoing impact of IADS international collaborators.

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Creating impact: from research to commercialisation and real-world deployment

IADS launched an AI-powered cybersecurity toolkit for SMEs (CyberSecurityAId), developed to help organisations identify cyber risks and understand digital vulnerabilities. Through the UK Government’s CyberLocal programme and partnerships with regional organisations, the toolkit is being deployed to support businesses across the South West and beyond. Alongside these developments, IADS expanded its portfolio of Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTPs), supporting companies in areas including digital marketing system security, digital product passports for supply chains, and AI-enhanced operational tools in the removals and logistics sector. Further impact was generated through participation in CyberASAP, advancing secure data-exchange solutions for connected vehicles. Research also contributed evidence to UK parliamentary inquiries on energy transition and circular-economy policy, supporting national decision-making.

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Strengthening cyber readiness across the region

IADS became a Friend of the Eastern Cyber Resilience Centre, contributing expertise to outreach efforts targeting regional organisations. Through the newly launched Cyber Innovate to Elevate (CItE) programme (with funding from Innovate UK), IADS has offered opportunities to early-career researchers across the university for consultancy projects to small and medium-sized businesses in north Essex and south-east Suffolk.

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Award-winning contributions to data protection research

Research conducted within IADS on cybersecurity risk management for cyber-physical systems received external recognition through an international award. The work developed structured models for assessing and managing cybersecurity risks, produced in collaboration with partners from leading European research groups. The award highlighted contributions to frameworks such as MARISMA-CPS, which support the evaluation of security requirements in complex technological environments.

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Leading innovation in critical infrastructure technologies

Port scene with title across image IADS research this year advanced security and optimisation across critical digital and physical infrastructures. Work included UAV communication security, authentication for vehicular networks, RIS-aided localisation, IIoT threat detection, and studies on mobile-network performance and sustainable AI. IADS members also contributed to the £1 million PALLETS project, which applies AI-powered safety and efficiency tools to UK ports and warehouse logistics. In parallel, IADS lead data protection efforts on a UKRI-funded collaboration addressing hallucinations in generative AI, developing methods to improve the reliability and trustworthiness of large AI models used in safety-critical sectors.

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Building bridges across disciplines: humans, machines and language

IADS contributed to interdisciplinary work linking linguistics, AI, and digital communication through co-organisation of the first annual conference of the Humans, Machines, Language Special Interest Group of the British Association of Applied Linguistics. Fellows published studies examining how individuals interact with digital systems and communication technologies, and delivered invited talks on language use in technologically mediated contexts.

Momentum for future ambition: new projects and emerging research themes

Group of people standing in row IADS expanded its research portfolio in ways closely aligned with national industrial strategy priorities, including AI innovation, digital trust and secure mobility and advanced logistics. Work on interactive AI environments, logistics optimisation, secure vehicle communication, and AI-supported risk assessment drew on interdisciplinary expertise spanning computing, business, linguistics, and social sciences. Fellows submitted new research to leading venues such as CaiSE and IEEE CAI, and contributed to emerging project proposals shaped through participation in major events and advisory meetings. These activities continue to build momentum for large-scale collaborative funding and future research directions.

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Essex to harness power of AI revolution

Showcasing the power of data science for public good

Lecturer giving a talk The Data Science Week organised by IADS was a memorable event that increase the visibility and reputation of the University of Essex across the data science world and created opportunities for research funding. Data Science Week offered workshops, demonstrations, and talks on topics including AI ethics, cybersecurity, data engineering, and applied analytics. The programme gathered students, leading researchers, governmental and local authority representatives, and industrialists for hands-on activities and knowledge exchange. Sessions highlighted ongoing research within IADS and provided opportunities for attendees to explore practical methods and emerging debates across the wider data science field.

Innovating for digital trust: privacy, consent, and secure AI futures

IADS members advanced methods for digital data trust, including developing modelling approaches for dynamic consent when sharing data, authentication schemes for IoT and vehicular systems, and secure communication protocols for unmanned aerial vehicles. Research also examined techniques for improving the reliability of generative AI systems and identifying vulnerabilities through explainable AI methods, contributing to foundations for secure and transparent digital infrastructures.

About the Author:

Institute for Analytics and Data Science

University of Essex

The Institute for Analytics and Data Science (IADS) was created in July 2014 as a centre of excellence that utilises new forms of data science and advanced analytic techniques to tackle social challenges, engage with the public and private sectors and the wider non-academic community, to develop lasting solutions that will make the world a better place.