Report: What Value Do FAIR Principles Bring to Companies?
The FAIR principles (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable), published in 2016, have in recent years become a key framework for managing scientific data. While originally aimed primarily at the research community, their use is gradually expanding into other areas – from R&D and clinical studies to operational processes. This broader perspective is the focus of the new FAIR 2024 Business Survey Report, conducted by Pistoia Alliance, an international non-profit organization promoting collaboration in the life sciences sector.
The survey aimed to better understand the business benefits that FAIR principles bring to companies and how these benefits can be measured. The study combined a literature review, a questionnaire survey of 36 organizations, and 12 in-depth expert interviews. The results show that companies that adopted FAIR principles five or more years ago are now experiencing concrete advantages – from improved data quality and more efficient processes to faster decision-making and reduced costs.
Key FAIR benefits include:
- Data reliability: higher quality, integrity, regulatory compliance, and support for artificial intelligence.
- Cost savings: reduced duplication, more efficient use of resources, and automation.
- Speed: shorter time to market, faster decision-making, and higher project throughput.
- Effectiveness: new insights and innovations that would otherwise not be possible.
Interviews also highlighted concrete examples: reducing data search times from several days to hours, speeding up clinical study preparations, decreasing errors through improved metadata, and lowering storage costs. FAIR is also increasingly recognized as a critical prerequisite for effective AI use – from machine-readable data to faster and more accurate analyses.
The report emphasizes that the main challenge is not technology but cultural change: it is essential to secure leadership support, engage all key stakeholders from the start, and clearly communicate the value of FAIR. Pistoia Alliance therefore recommends developing strong “value stories,” shared frameworks for evaluating benefits, and methods for calculating return on investment.
Overall, the document delivers a clear message: FAIR is not just about data management – it is a strategic tool for innovation, collaboration, and long-term competitiveness for companies in the life sciences sector.
Last updated on August 15, 2025
