Recent decades brought human genetics from laboratory studies to mainstream commercial products Today's genetic research is a multi-billion industry based on the indisputable value of scientific output for the pharmaceutical industry The key resource in this value production is the genetic material acquired from individuals through exploitable commercial services to be resold as digitalised genetic data to research institutions for profit Waag decided to challenge this exploitation with a socially responsible business model of self-ownership where citizens remain owners of their genetic material and sequenced data We believe citizens should remain owners of their genetic data and become stockholders of their genomic utilisation and commercialisation For that purpose Waag proposes the Genecoop a co-operative institution fully owned by its members providing a legal frame for the citizens to remain owners of their genetic data during the whole process of its monetisation Such an organisation would actively advocate negotiate and represent citizen interests

https://waag.org/nl/project/gene-coop