Funder requirements and costs of research data management

Before starting your research project, you should be aware of the requirements from funders and publishers regarding research data sharing (e.g., data availability) and consider potential costs related to research data management.

In addition to DTU's requirement of a data management plan for every project, funding agencies also frequently impose requirements related to Open Science.

Requirements from funders

The FAIR principles are a key component of Horizon Europe, and the perspective among many funders is that data generated with support from their funds should be made available to all, with as few restrictions as possible. Some funders also require the development of a data management plan (DMP) in connection with the project.

If your research project has received funding from the Horizon framework programme, you are required to write a DMP, and submit it within the first six months of the project. An updated plan must be provided before the final evaluation. Additionally, you are required to publish your data in a trusted data repository with well-described metadata, including a description of the tools that can be used to validate research results using the raw data.

Understand your funder's requirements for data management and Open Science before initiating your project.

DTU Library offers guidance, workshops (Check the library calendar), and repositories that support Open Access and FAIR data.

Contact the DTU Research Office if you have questions or need assistance with a research application.

Data Availability Statements in scientific papers

Many publishers today require that research data be made available to support research integrity and reproducibility. Always check the publisher’s guidelines before submitting your manuscript – and don’t pay to make your data accessible.

At DTU, you can publish and share your data and supplementary materials for free through DTU Data.

Good research data management (RDM) is not just a requirement – it strengthens the quality and transparency of your research. By planning your data activities early, you can also save time and resources later in the project.

Consider the potential costs related to data management and creating FAIR data throughout the entire research data lifecycle, such as:

  • license fees for databases and software

  • storage and IT solutions

  • training and education.

  • long term preservation

Check whether RDM-related costs are eligible under your funding scheme – for example, they are in Horizon Europe – so you can include them in your initial budget.

Use DTU’s RDM Cost Calculation template to outline relevant expenses.