Delaware Data Innovation Lab is set to fight COVID-19 with analytics

COVID-19 has created serious problems that require accurate data to aid decision making when it comes to public health, education and the economy. Unfortunately, that data is sometimes unavailable, or worse, inaccurate.

Wilmington data science company CompassRed received a $2 million New Castle County CARES Act grant in October to address the issue with the Delaware Data Innovation Lab (DDIL), which will officially launch on Dec. 1.

“This grant recognizes the tremendous potential of data innovations to create jobs, stimulate the economy and build on the existing regional strengths we have already in the analytics space,” said Patrick Callahan, CEO CompassRed, in a press release. “Funding will develop new discoveries and technologies to help companies and the data industry evolve together. Potential applications include improved automation and transformation for businesses impacted by COVID-19, including enhanced pandemic analytics and data visualization strategies.”

Initially, the DDIL will be organized and developed at CompassRed, but over the long term, the plan is that it will sustain as a standalone initiative supported by member organizations benefiting from its data and insight. It will also engage local and global organizations in ongoing conversations about the use of advanced data analytics and artificial intelligence to jumpstart research ideas into the marketplace.

The official launch will include a free virtual event on Dec. 1, where attendees will hear from Callahan and members of the lab as they dive into the inspiration and mission of the innovation hub, including an explanation of the overall model and an exploration of one of the COVID-19 problem sets they will focus on.