How to do a Data Management Plan in Horizon 2020?

The Data Management Plan in Horizon 2020 is a key element of good data management. A Data Management Plan (DMP) describes the data management life cycle for the data to be collected, processed and/or generated by a project.

Download the DMP template here.

As part of making research data findable, accessible, interoperable and re-usable (FAIR), a DMP should include information on:

the handling of research data during & after the end of the project
what data will be collected, processed and/or generated
which methodology & standards will be applied
whether data will be shared/made open access and
how data will be curated & preserved (including after the end of the project).

First version

Once a project has had its funding approved and has started, you must submit a first version of your DMP (as a deliverable) within the first 6 months of the project. The Commission provides a DMP template in annex, the use of which is recommended but voluntary.

Updates

The DMP needs to be updated over the course of the project whenever significant changes arise, such as (but not limited to):

new data
changes in consortium policies (e.g. new innovation potential, decision to file for a patent)
changes in consortium composition and external factors (e.g. new consortium members joining or old members leaving).

The DMP should be updated as a minimum in time with the periodic evaluation/assessment of the project.

If there are no other periodic reviews foreseen within the grant agreement, then such an update needs to be made in time for the final review at the latest.
Furthermore, the consortium can define a timetable for review in the DMP itself.

Periodic reporting

For general information on periodic reporting please check the following sections of the online manual