1. Item 2.2 of the Agenda
Remote access to confidential data for researchers:
possible actions under the 7th Framework Programme
Pascal JACQUES
Unit B 5
15 & 16 October 2007
IT Directors Group

2. 2.2 Why access to confidential data
Increasing needs to access microdata files from the Research Community
Answer more and more political requests for new and more focussed analysis
Improve quality of analysis
Permit replication of results and peer-reviewing
Lack of access to microdata push the research communities to conduct their own surveys, increasing response burden, increasing the cost reducing quality of results
More access to microdata would allow
Broaden use of data collected
Allow more analysis of better quality
Improve the return on data collection investments
15 & 16 October 2007
IT Directors Group

3. 2.2 REMOTE ACCESS TO CONFIDENTIAL DATA IN 7TH FRAMEWORK PROGRAMME
Topic: Research Infrastructures
Objective : Integrating Activities
provide a wider and more efficient access to and use of the existing infrastructures existing in the different Member States
INFRA : promoting European wide access to microdata sets of officials statistics for research and leading to a European statistical system open to researchers
3rd Call for proposal opening 20 November 2007 closing 20 February 2008
Budget : around 5/6 M€ for a 5 years project (I3 model)
15 & 16 October 2007
IT Directors Group

4. 2.2 The proposed Integrated Infrastructure Initiative must combine
Networking activities
(Coordination and support action)
The I3 model
Trans-national access
(Coordination and support action)
Joint research activities
(Collaborative project)
15 & 16 October 2007
IT Directors Group

5. The networking activities
Definition of standards for accredited safe centres
Common framework and guidelines for Output checking
Training of staff
Common procedures for approval of research centres and researchers
Setting up secure connections between safe centres
The trans-national access
Access to the defined set of microdata for researchers
The different safe centres included in the network could share components such as:
Common EU datasets
Common rules for data access nationally and EU level for research projects and researchers
Common database of allowed researchers and ways to connect to DBs
Shared database containing query log files to allow Output check controls and data linking disclosure control
Common rules for input and output checks
Joint research activities (common procedures and technological solutions )
Advanced SDC methods like disclosure risk assessment, output checking
Data Access Protection and tracing
Data Analysis facilities
Virtual databases management
Data archiving, indexing, and curation – Work on Metadata
15 & 16 October 2007
IT Directors Group

6. 2.2 Remote Access Facilities (RAFs)
Produce statistical outputs from microdata files through computer networks, without the researchers actually ‘seeing’ the microdata.
Two basic types:
Remote execution.
The researcher writes analysis programs
Submits them to the depositor who runs them off-line.
Input and output controls are executed by the depositor on the queries sent and on the results.
The results are then sent back to the researcher.
Remote console. The researcher can perform remotely the analysis using a software granting him the access to the microdata. In this case, he has immediately, from home, the answer of his query on the screen. Conditions are such that the microdata itself cannot be downloaded and that only simple data manipulations are available due to software limitations like tabulation and simple analyses only. Output controls have to be performed before the researcher can use the produced analysis
15 & 16 October 2007
IT Directors Group

7. 15 & 16 October 2007
IT Directors Group