Planning

Data Management Plan (DMP)

The Data Management Plan (DMP) defines and documents the framework and the specific strategies for the production, processing, scope, storage and, if applicable, subsequent publication of research data.

A DMP may also be a requirement in case of third-party funding and is often reviewed during project application; depending on the field of study or the funding organization.

Content of a DMP

Due to the large number of disciplines, research questions, and funding agencies, there is no rigid structure for a DMP. However, the following outline has proven to be a useful generalization as a starting point:

1. Project description
2. Type of data
3. Documentation and data quality
4. Organization of data
5. Storage, backup and security
6. Legal requirements
7. Archiving, sharing and publication
8. Project staffing and user roles
9. Cost and resources

The Practical Guide to the International Alignment of Research Data Management, in which also the DFG was actively involved, mentions the DMP as an important planning tool for successful scientific work. The DFG also provides important information on the content of a DMP in its Checklist for Handling of Research Data.

DMP-samples and -examples

Do you want to describe the handling of research data in a funding application? We have put together some text examples in our confluence space (login with university ID required).

In addition, you will find some DMP examples below.

• DMP example used by HU Berlin to apply for funding from various sources:
  • EU Horizon 2020 (Version 3.0)
  • Volkswagen Stiftung: PDF, XLSX
• DMP-Template of the RWTH Aachen
• Sample-DMP by University Greifswald
• Public DMPs on Zenodo and DMPonline

DMP-tools

There are several web-based tools available, that can help creating a DMP.

• Argos
  An open, extensible, and configurable tool for implementing machine-readable DMPs that complies with the OpenAIRE guidelines for EU funding.
• Data Stewardship Wizard
  Provides many features and tools for collaborative creation and maintenance of FAIR machine-readable DMPs.
• DataWiz
  Primarily intended for researchers in psychology. The tool is coordinated with the funding guidelines of the BMBF, DFG and EU.
• DMPonline
  Focused on UK funding programs. For German-speaking countries, the Humboldt University of Berlin has developed a guide to use DMPonline for Horizon 2020.
• DMPTool
  In line with the US funding situation.
• GFBio DMP Tool
  Enables the creation of DMPs in the disciplines of biodiversity, ecology and environmental technology. Based on the DFG guidelines for handling research data in biodiversity research.
• RDMO – Research Data Management Organiser
  RDMO (Leibniz Institute for Astrophysics Potsdam) was developed as part of a DFG project. Freely configurable question catalogs based on the WissGrid checklist are available for RDMO. In addition, further question catalogs adapted to the requirements of other research funders (e.g. Horizon 2020, DFG) can be added.

More DMP-tools can be found on forschungsdaten.org and forschungsdaten.info.