A Data Management Plan (DMP) is a document that describes how research data will be collected, processed, organised, stored, protected, shared, and preserved during and after a research project.
A DMP should be treated as a living document. It can be updated throughout the project as the research, data, or data-management practices develop.
How to Create a DMP?
There are several ways to create a Research Data Management Plan (DMP). For example, a DMP can be prepared as a Word document or created using a dedicated DMP tool. When preparing a DMP, it is recommended to follow the template and guidance provided by the relevant funder.
The format and content of a DMP may vary depending on the requirements of the funder and the nature of the research project. Always check the specific requirements of the relevant funding programme before preparing or submitting your DMP.
A practical approach is to:
- Identify the data — What data will be collected, created, processed, or reused?
- Plan data organisation and documentation — How will the data be organised, described, and documented?
- Plan storage and security — Where will the data be stored and how will it be protected and backed up?
- Consider ethical and legal requirements — How will personal, sensitive, confidential, or otherwise restricted data be handled?
- Plan data sharing — Which data can be shared, when, where, and under what conditions?
- Consider FAIR principles — How will the data be made as Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable as possible?
- Plan preservation — How and where will the data and related documentation be preserved after the project?
- Review and update the DMP — Update the plan when significant changes occur during the project.
Tools for DMP Creation
Several tools are available to support the creation and management of a Data Management Plan (DMP). These tools guide researchers through the DMP creation process, support collaboration and shared editing within the project team, and help produce a final DMP using templates recommended by different funders and funding programmes.
DMPonline is an online tool for creating and managing Data Management Plans.
Data Stewardship Wizard (DSW) is an open-source tool that supports researchers throughout the planning and management of research data. It guides users through the DMP creation process using structured questions and can generate DMPs based on different templates and requirements.
ARGOS is a web-based tool for creating and managing Data Management Plans. It is integrated with the OpenAIRE platform and supports the creation of machine-actionable DMPs.
DMP Templates
Use the template required or recommended by your funder or funding programme. The following templates can be useful starting points:
The European Commission provides a Data Management Plan template for Horizon Europe.
TA ČR provides requirements and templates for Data Management Plans for its funded projects.
Národní technická knihovna, Data Management Plan template.
