Cost-benefit analysis for FAIR research data - Publications Office of the EU

Abstract:  FAIR research data encompasses the way to create, store and publish research data in a way that they are findable, accessible, interoperable and reusable. In order to be FAIR, research data published should meet certain criteria described by the FAIR principles. FAIR originated from the current patchy data management practices in EU, which are not optimal yet. Several local initiatives, as well as global ones, are making the move towards an infrastructure supporting the FAIR principles in order to get the most of research data. This report aims to estimate the cost of not having FAIR research data for the EU economy based on a series of measurable indicators, which were defined based on existing studies and interviews with subject matter experts.

From p. 31: "Interpreting the overall cost of not having FAIR research data as a single value overlooks many non-quantifiable benefits of FAIR. Nonetheless, at €10.2bn per year in Europe, the measurable cost of not having FAIR research data makes an overwhelming case in favour of the implementation of the FAIR principles."