Survey on non-personal and personal data

How do Swiss companies handle non-personal and personal data? Is there a market for data, and in which areas do companies see a need for action? To answer these questions, the Swiss Federal Institute of Intellectual Property (IPI) commissioned Polynomics to conduct a survey of around 800 companies.

Key findings on non-personal data: Despite an increase in data generation, its economic importance has declined. Although companies now have a better understanding of which non-personal data are available, they are used and demanded less than five years ago. Accordingly, the trade in such data has also lost importance.

Key findings on personal data: Companies collect large amounts of personal data but make little use of them to develop new products or services. Demand and trade in personal data are low. Companies rarely share personal data; when they do, they are more likely to share it with public authorities or the research community than with commercial third parties.

Overall, companies face few barriers to data access and do not actively call for additional regulations.