A data management plan (DMP) is both a formal document and a practical tool. Both research funders and institutions require research projects to have a DMP. A DMP outlines how data is planned to be handled in the process of a research project, from data collection or re-use, through data processing and analysis, to data preservation and archiving. Depending on the field of research and the needs of the project, the DMP may take different forms. The DMP should be considered a living document and be revised as the project develops.
The data management plan contain information about the following:
- About the DMP
- About the research project
- Legal and ethical aspects
- Storing and protecting data during the project
- Reusing or collecting data
- Data documentation during the project
- Processing, analysing and interpreting data
- Preserving and publishing data
- Responsibilities and resources
For more information about what data management plan should contain and how to write a data management plan consult plan.research-data.no, a knowledge resource to support Data Management planning at Norwegian research institutions
Research Council of Norway, the EU, ERC, and other funders require the submission of a data management plan.
The Research Council and the EU require the submission of a data management plan three times: at the beginning, midway, and in the final report of the research project.
UiO (University of Oslo) does not have specific requirements for a template to be used, but it is recommended to use the funder's templates if available.
Tips for evaluating a data management plan to be submitted to funders:
- Practical Guide to the International Alignment of Research Data Management - Extended Edition, Science Europe, 2021
- Rubric for assessment of NSF data management plans, National Science Foundation, 2017
- Data Management Plan Scorecard, Belmont Forum, 2019
A data management plan is not a form for reporting personal data in research or a data processing agreement. Separate forms are available for that purpose:
Templates and tools for data management plans:
There are several tools available for creating data management plans, and UiO does not have specific guidelines for tool use.
- UiO's template - a simple Word-based template for download.
- DMP-Online, which provides templates following ERC and Horizon Europe recommendations.
- Data Stewardship Wizard, customized for use with the infrastructure of ELIXIR NORWAY.
- Sikt - Data Management Plan.
- EUs data management plan template.