Why industry needs ELIXIR

Life science research is undergoing a technological revolution.

Improvements in instrumentation are leading to mass availability of data covering:

• genome sequences
• nucleotide transcripts
• protein expression information
• small molecule identification
• an abundance of information derived from metabolomics.

It is a huge challenge for all life science organisations to address the enormous task of managing and integrating this torrent of diverse data.

Few commercial organisations are equipped to deal with the challenges posed by the data deluge using internal resources alone. This is true both for large corporations and small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

In addition, companies are faced with static or shrinking information system budgets and manpower. Consequently, few commercial organisations can afford to work alone, and many are re-evaluating the need for pre-competitive IP generated internally.

ELIXIR supports open innovation. The adoption of widely adopted standards will reduce barriers between information sharing and help facilitate cross-company research partnerships.

Through 2013, ELIXIR will develop a vision for engaging industry and ensuring that industry's needs are met when ELIXIR services are developed and deployed.

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