ICO Innovation Services – which one is right for you?

The Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) offers a range of services to innovative businesses using personal data in new and novel ways

Whether you're a small start-up or a large organisation innovating with personal data, the ICO has a range of services to support you.

Innovation advice service

Still in its public beta test phase, this service is available to organisations of any size, in any sector. The service has been designed to help resolve data protection issues holding up the progress of new products, services, or business models.

Find out more about the Innovation advice service.

Regulatory Sandbox

The Sandbox is a service suited to organisations that intend to, or are in the process of, developing innovative products and services using personal data for the benefit of the public. Current key areas of interest are biometrics, emerging technologies and exceptional innovations.

The ICO welcomes expressions of interest from start-ups, small or medium organisations and large organisations, across private, public and voluntary sectors.

If you are interested in working with the Sandbox, you should contact sandbox@ico.org.uk.

Data protection impact assessment (DPIA) advice

The ICO's DPIA team offers advice to organisations that have assessed their proposal to process personal data and have identified a high risk that they cannot reduce. The team provides written advice (typically within eight weeks), to help organisations to reduce or avoid the identified risk before proceeding.

Find more guidance on DPIA and contact the team at dpiaconsultation@ico.org.uk.

Innovation Hub

The Hub helps innovators build privacy by design into their new products. It does this by working with regulators and innovation bodies who are running events where organisations and businesses develop, test and improve new ideas that involve processing personal data.

The Hub's work is targeted at sectors that are innovating with personal data. Current priorities include digital industries, financial services, health, smart cities and legal services.

If you are interested in discussing collaboration opportunities with the Innovation Hub, you can email Hub@ico.org.uk

Find out more about the ICO's Innovation Services.

First published 23 June 2023