From Principles to Practice: Enabling FAIRification from laboratories to Research Infrastructures

Preprint in Embargo until submission. Targetted journal: Patterns: Cell Press This paper presents an analysis of 12 case studies showcasing the implementation of the FAIR principles (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable) across diverse disciplinary contexts. It identifies key challenges such as the burden of metadata entry, inconsistent standards, repository sustainability, and difficulties in tracking data provenance, and proposes actionable recommendations tailored and targeted to the roles and responsibilities of key stakeholders, addressing e.g., data producers, data stewards, infrastructure providers, repository managers, and policymakers. The recommendations are designed to be actionable at three complementary levels: (1) by research teams and laboratories, (2) through institutional governance and support structures, and (3) via engagement with international ecosystems and initiatives developing tools for FAIR support and assessment. This paper highlights the importance of promoting wider use of existing FAIR tools, guidances and initiatives, tailoring practices to community needs, and using self-assessment tools not merely for compliance, but as mechanisms for continuous improvement. Ultimately, the authors encourage the development of tailored FAIR checklists and the use of European and international infrastructures to align FAIRification efforts, emphasising the role of FAIR in fostering efficient, transparent and reproducible science.