What are data management plans?
A data management plan (DMP) systematically describes how research data generated in projects will be handled. It documents the storage, indexing, maintenance and processing of the data.
A DMP is important in order to make data interpretable and reusable for third parties. Many third-party funding bodies (DFG etc.) expect a DMP as part of a funding application for the allocation of funds from certain funding lines.
Even before the project begins, it is important to clarify who is responsible for handling the data, e.g:
- What data will be generated and used in the project?
- Which data must be archived after the end of the project?
- How long should the data be archived?
- Who is responsible for keywording with metadata?
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Who may use the data after the end of the project and under what license terms?
What are the advantages of data management plans?
- facilitate agreements on responsibilities and data exchange in collaborations
- facilitate documentation for reporting obligations
- facilitate the subsequent use of your own data
- reduce the risk of data loss
