Liverpool City Region’s Civic Data Cooperative (CDC) marks five years of exploring the possibilities of data and research, improving services and solutions through data, and engaging communities in shaping how data is used.
To celebrate this milestone, the CDC will host a Festival of Data from 5 -7 February 2026, bringing together communities, businesses, and innovators for three days of creativity and collaboration.
Funded by the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority, the CDC was established in 2020 with a bold vision: to create a vibrant, internationally renowned civic data environment that would drive economic growth in health technology and digital sectors, while improving the lives of local residents through better healthcare, wellbeing, and innovation.
Five years later, the CDC team, hosted at the Civic Health Innovation Labs at the University of Liverpool, is reflecting on its successes across three strands of activity, including:
- Technology – The team has developed digital structures that now underpin 20 key LCR public health research initiatives including Children Growing Up in Liverpool (C-GULL) birth cohort study and the Mental Health Research for Innovation Centre (M-RIC). This ‘behind the scenes’ work creates enhanced data security, ethical governance, accessibility and usability for effective research projects that benefit the public.
- Public participation – Almost 15,000 Liverpool City Region residents have attended CDC supported events, demonstrating strong community engagement. The CDC has positioned LCR as a global leader in participatory data stewardship and actively engaged a diverse range of stakeholders to shape projects and governance principles. Initiatives such as the Residents’ Assembly provided valuable insights that strengthened ethical and trustworthy data practices. In addition, the CDC drove approval of the regional NHS Secure Data Environment and established a permanent public advisory group.
- Innovation – The CDC has had a direct impact on data available for local services like fire and rescue and children and young people. Through practical projects like Early Help in Children’s Services and support for initiatives such Safe & Well, it has delivered tangible benefits in areas like data quality, service integration, and targeted interventions. For example, fire and rescue services now have access to better data to target home safety checks to reduce accidental dwelling fires.
Festival of Data to celebrate CDC success
To celebrate, the CDC is announcing its Festival of Data, a three-day celebration from Thursday 5 – Saturday 7 February 2026, marking the culmination of a five-year programme focused on data collection, visualisation, stewardship, and innovation.
This interactive event will showcase imaginative and impactful uses of data by businesses, communities, and schoolchildren, demonstrating how data can drive better public services across the city region.
Professor Iain Buchan, W.H. Duncan Chair in Public Health Systems, Associate Pro Vice Chancellor for Innovation, and Director of Civic Health Innovation Labs (CHIL) said: “The CDC was conceived as a response to pressing needs across our region to mobilise data to improve health and care, reduce inequalities, and grow our digital economy. It tackled fragmented data landscapes, and the need for more inclusive, participatory approaches to data stewardship. It demonstrated the power of collective action around data in response to the Covid-19 pandemic and has set the Liverpool City Region on a course to harness the emerging AI economy for good.
“This festival is a celebration of what happens when communities, researchers, and innovators come together to reimagine how data can serve the public good. It’s not just about technology – it’s about creativity, collaboration, and civic pride. We look forward to welcoming communities and businesses alike to attend and engage with the programme.”
Cllr Liam Robinson, Liverpool City Region Cabinet Member for Innovation, said: “This is an exciting time for our city region as we celebrate five years of the Civic Data Cooperative’s groundbreaking work. The CDC has shown how data can improve health, wellbeing, and public services while creating opportunities for innovation and growth.
“The Festival of Data will showcase these achievements and inspire new ideas, bringing together communities, businesses, and researchers. This sector has huge potential to create high-quality jobs and put Liverpool City Region at the forefront of data-driven innovation. I encourage everyone to get involved and see how data can make a real difference.”
The festival will feature three themed days:
- Thursday 5 February
Data, Art & Young People
Over 200 schoolchildren will collaborate with eight artists to create original data-inspired artworks, which will be exhibited on Friday 6 & Saturday 7 February at two public events. This event is delivered in collaboration with the University of Liverpool’s Widening Participation team. - Friday 6 February
Public Service Transformation through Data
A full-day conference featuring panel discussions, workshops, and an evening performance of the ‘Cabaret of Dangerous Data Ideas’. - Saturday 7 February
Exhibition of Data, Art & You
A family-friendly interactive exhibition including a Data Art Safari, Lego workshops, Data Detectives, and live demonstrations from researchers and businesses.
For more information about the festival or to book tickets for the conference visit https://civicdatacooperative.com/festival-of-data/