WE LOVE superheroes. They have become an integral part of our culture, with the likes of Black Panther, the Avengers and Deadpool - just to name a few - continuing to make the world a safer place. But while those characters' actions are limited to our screens, a new superhero is emerging, one which can make a real impact on our lives: the data knight.

He fought chronic diseases and provided better patient treatment in hospitals. He distributed more than 100 million pounds of food in disaster areas, to those who needed it the most. And he caught a serial killer who had been on the loose. However, the data knight is not this one guy protecting the world - it is a concept describing every single person who uses data to make a difference.

Case in point: The Swedish police force made a breakthrough on the hunt of a serial killer when it used a technology capable of analysing 10 years' worth of crime records - or two million files - and cross-referencing those with tips submitted by citizens. With this approach, they identified the killer, putting an end to a high-profile crime case which lasted more than a year.