ADR Scotland aligns specialists from the Scottish Government with the expertise of academic researchers across four leading universities. We are improving access to administrative data, enabling safe and secure data linkage, and supporting research on key issues affecting Scotland.
The data linked and analysed by ADR Scotland aims to address priority areas for action in Scotland, such as those identified in the Scottish Government's Programme for Government. Our areas of focus include children and young people; crime and justice; health, mental health and social care, housing and environment; work, welfare and the economy. We also conduct research on emerging government priorities, such as the response to and impact of the pandemic.
What does ADR Scotland do?
As part of ADR UK, ADR Scotland works with a range of delivery partners to:
- Increase the amount of administrative datasets available for public good research that can increase the evidence base for policy and practice
- Facilitate secure access to administrative data for accredited researchers
- Deliver training and resources to support researchers using administrative data
- Work with the public to ensure their views shape our research
- Deliver impactful research for public good
Our partners
ADR Scotland brings together government specialists and academic researchers from four leading universities. The partnership is ideally placed to maximise the utility of de-identified and secure data to provide evidence that shapes future policy decisions in Scotland. We are also supported by a number of delivery partners including EPCC, National Records of Scotland, Public Health Scotland and Research Data Scotland.
How we can support you
Whether you are an academic, public or private sector researcher, Scottish Government analyst, policymaker or data owner, ADR Scotland is here to help you unlock the value of administrative data. We will work alongside you at every stage — from shaping early ideas through to achieving meaningful policy impact — bringing together the right policy, people, data and expertise to make a real difference for Scotland.
Check out our short guide on how we can support research from idea to impact.
How we are funded
ADR Scotland is funded directly by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), with a dedicated portion of the total investment in ADR UK. The partnership recently secured £25 million investment from ESRC for 2026-2031, ensuring continued delivery of high-impact research aligned to Scotland’s priorities.
To find out more about how ADR UK is funded, see About Us. Further details of the grants awarded to the Scottish Government and the University of Edinburgh can be seen on the UK Research and Innovation (UKRI)’s Gateway to Research platform.
Latest publications
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Data Insight - Linking NMC registration data to Census 2021 for England and Wales
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Policy briefing: The relationship between dimensionality and duration of household poverty during childhood and onset of youth offending
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Data Insight - Is insufficient sunlight exposure an under-recognised risk factor for CVD?
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Data Insight: Understanding factors linked to school absence in Scotland
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Data Insight: Commuting patterns among nurses and midwives in England & Wales
