Requirements set by funding providers
As it is often the case that the majority of funding provided for projects flows into data collection, funding providers have a legitimate interest in ensuring that the collected data remain accessible and can be re-used in the long term. To ensure this can be achieved, research data handling should be carefully considered and planned before data collection begins.
Many funding providers already request information about research data handling in proposals and often the provision of data management plans (DMP) at the start of the project. Early planning is advisable as you can apply for resource and personnel funding for RDM and, in the case of extremely data-intensive projects, potentially also for infrastructure funding from many funding providers.
The requirements set by funding providers are very heterogeneous and it is often necessary to review the individual calls for proposals carefully (in particular in the case of foundations and ministries). The EU requests data management plans and the publication of data in accordance with them. In the case of the German Research Foundation (DFG), the specifications depend on the funding programme, as well as other things. The DFG website provides detailed information on research data handling in the various funding programmes, the funding you can apply for and subject-specific recommendations.
Details about research data management are highly specific and depend on the research question and methods. Nevertheless, we recommend addressing the following topics in the proposal:
In particular, the Guideline on Handling Research Data at Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf and guidelines on handling research data published by the individual funding providers should be observed and stated where necessary (e.g. DFG). You can find further policies, regulations and guidelines relating to RDM here. We also recommend presenting any synergies with existing structures (e.g. the RDM Competence Centre, other RDM activities such as INF projects involving CRCs or CEPLAS or German National Research Data Infrastructure (NFDI) initiatives).
In the case of larger projects involving multiple institutes or universities, it is helpful to set out general, higher-level principles in an internal project RDM policy. In this policy, you can define, e.g.:
- That a person should be nominated to bear responsibility for data stewardship
- The extent to which data are stored and where
- How data exchange within the project is ensured
- The extent of any mutual usage rights granted
- The extent to which data comparability is ensured
- The extent of compliance with the FAIR principles (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable)
- The extent to which a publication of data is planned
- The extent to which a deletion strategy is planned
- Whether data management plans (DMP) will be created at individual working group level (note: some funding providers stipulate the submission of a DMP at a specific point in time)
- Whether training courses on RDM will be conducted at the start of the project
Generic and project-specific infrastructure or tools should be described. HHU provides various services to help you manage your research data better.
We offer individual consultations to help you with your proposal. Please contact us at least 6 months before submitting the proposal, in particular where it is for one of the coordinated DFG programme lines (CRC, RTG, research group). The planning for an infrastructure project in a Collaborative Research Centre in particular is very time-consuming – we would be pleased to support you in this.
Examples of research data management projects coordinated by HHU: