British Chancellor, George Osborne, announced on 19 March that an institute would be set up to focus on the Big Data phenomenon and algorithm research in the United Kingdom. The institute to be established with a fund of 42 million British pounds will be named after Alan Turing (1912-1954). The institute will aim to allow the United Kingdom to preserve its determinant role in the field, and to assist British companies in their collaborative activities that require massive computer capacity to solve problems or develop more efficient services.
"I am delighted that he finally received a posthumous pardon last December. In his honour, we will found the Alan Turing Institute to ensure Britain leads the way again in the use of Big Data and algorithm research. I am convinced that our country will succeed in doing so," – said Osborne about the plans for the institute in his speech delivered in the House of Commons.
Computer science professionals and mathematicians have long recognised Turing?s great achievements. The University of Glasgow already has a Turing Institute, the Manchester Institute for Mathematical Sciences has a Turing Building, while Almere in the Netherlands also has an Alan Turing Institute (www.alanturinginstitutealmere.nl).