Consortium FAIRmat

About the project

The FAIRmat Consortium is a German research initiative that supports the digital transformation of science through better research data management and AI-ready infrastructures. Coordinated by Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, FAIRmat develops and operates the NOMAD platform. NOMAD is an open ecosystem that allows researchers in materials science, physics, and chemistry to collect, organise, share, analyse, and reuse scientific data according to FAIR principles (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable).

Beyond the technical infrastructure, FAIRmat focuses on digital upskilling. The project provides researchers, students, data stewards, and research software engineers with practical training on data management, interoperability, metadata standards, and AI-assisted workflows. Through workshops, tutorials, documentation, online resources, and integration into university programmes, FAIRmat helps embed digital and data-centric skills directly into everyday research practices.

Why it is a good practice

FAIRmat is a strong example of good practice because it integrates infrastructure, education, and innovation into a single sustainable ecosystem. Rather than treating digital skills training as a standalone activity, the initiative integrates learning directly into scientific workflows, enabling participants to gain hands-on experience with real data and AI-driven tools. This practical approach makes the training highly relevant and transferable.

The project also demonstrates clear impact and scalability. NOMAD already hosts more than 20 million public data entries and supports a large international community with over 4,000 daily visitors, 80+ self-hosted deployments, and more than 100 training events delivered worldwide. Its open-source and federated model allows universities and research institutions across Europe to replicate and adapt the platform to their own needs.

Another important strength is FAIRmat’s contribution to Europe’s future digital workforce. By promoting open science, AI-ready data practices, and interdisciplinary collaboration, the initiative equips researchers and students with the advanced digital competencies needed for data-driven and AI-assisted research. This directly supports Europe’s Digital Decade objectives related to advanced digital skills and ICT specialists.