Library Guides: Research Data Management: Funder requirements for RDM

DMPonline at RCSI

Funder requirements for RDM

Increasingly, funding bodies require their awardees to develop a Data Management Plan (DMP), and implement specific research data management policies that are named in their funding call documentation. Several funders require a short DMP at grant application stage, addressing:

The standards that will be used to develop and document the data
The plan for safely storing the data during and after the project
How data will be curated and preserved, so that it remains accessible after the funding for this research has completed.

Generally, a full length DMP is required 3-6 months post-award. Check with your funder when they expect this project deliverable, but as a rule of thumb it is usually submitted at month 6. The DMP is not a fixed document and should evolve throughout the lifecycle of the project. You should submit updated versions of the DMP to your funder as the project evolves. Check with your funder whether they expect updates at key milestones, but as a rule of thumb you usually update the DMP every 6-12 months (or sooner if the project is less than 2 years in duration).

Irish funding bodies are increasingly aligning themselves with the Science Europe Core Requirements for Data Management Plans. The following sections (below) provide guidance on the requirements of each of the main funding bodies for research at RCSI.

If you are unsure of what template to use, you can contact the Research Data Coordinator at RCSI Library for advice. Use the 'Chat with us' red tab on the right of the screen, or by email the Library at library@rcsi.com with your question.

The HRB updated their policy on the Management and Sharing of Research Data in 2025 which is relevant to data generated in whole or in part from HRB-funded research. Key points from the policy are as follows:

Researchers are expected to maximise the availability of research data, and the software and materials that underpin it, with as few as restrictions as possible.
Applicants for HRB funding must consider their approach to managing and sharing expected data outputs at the research proposal stage in line with the National Framework on the Transition to an Open Research Environment.
The HRB requires a data management plan (DMP) supplemental to all approved grant applications where DMP requirements are specified within the grant call guidance. The DMP will outline how the data for a specific grant will be collected, organised, stored, backed-up, preserved, shared, archived and disposed.
The HRB has defined a minimum set of questions that comprise a DMP (the HRB's DMP Template) and are required to be addressed. In RCSI we use DMPonline which contains the HRB's DMP template and guidance.
Researchers’ approach to data management should be dynamic and DMPs should be updated throughout the life cycle of the grant. Researchers are encourage to engage with the Research Data Coordinator at RCSI Library to develop and update their DMP as key points in the project.
Host Institutions must sign a declaration (HRB DMP HI Declaration Form) that DMPs for grants have been completed in partnership with an institutional data steward or equivalent. A signed Declaration can be requested from the Research Data Coordinator at RCSI Library.
Within grant applications, costs related to data management, FAIRification process, storage and archiving of research data in line with best practice of data management and stewardship and implementation of the FAIR principles that are incurred during the lifetime of the grant should be included. Advice on how to budget for FAIR data can be sought from the Research Data Coordinator at RCSI Library.
For grant-holders, HRB will consider whether researchers have managed and shared their research data and underlying software and materials in line with our requirements, as part of the grant output reporting.

See the full HRB Policy on Management and Sharing of Research Data

The HRB recommend using their Health Research Board DMP Template which can be found on DMPonline. DMPOnline includes lots of helpful guidance from RCSI Library, and from the HRB.

Register for an account at https://rcsi.dmponline.dcc.ac.uk/

When you create a new plan, select the Health Research Board DMP Template from the list of options.

Since April 2024, the HRB also require that you also submit a signed and stamped DMP Declaration Form which you can obtain from the RCSI Research Data Coordinator, Ruth Geraghty, in the RCSI Library. Please contact Ruth for further information on this.

Taighde Éireann - Research Ireland

Research Ireland’s new Open Research Policy took effect from April 2025, and an updated Open Research Policy will be launched before the end of 2025.

Requirements for Research Data

Research Ireland encourages researchers to ensure that research data and software are Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable (FAIR).
All data, original software or materials that underpin Research Ireland-funded research publications should be deposited in an open repository.
The associated publication should include information on how to access the related resources.

Read Research Ireland’s Interim Open Research Policy in full for more details.

Many Research Ireland Programme Calls now require a Data Management Plan (DMP) at the submission stage, detailing data management responsibilities and resources, including adherence to FAIR principles.

When applying to Research Ireland for research funding, you can prepare your 2-page DMP using the RCSI-licensed version of DMPonline. Select the Science Europe DMP template in DMPonline.

Research Ireland are members of Science Europe, and applicants for funding should use the Science Europe DMP template to develop their DMP as part of the grant application, or after funding has been awarded. You can use DMPonline to develop the DMP for your Research Ireland funded project.

Register for an account at https://rcsi.dmponline.dcc.ac.uk/

When you create a new plan, select the Science Europe Template from the list of options.

As a recipient of an Irish Research Council funded award, you should adhere to the following data management policy:

Research data should be deposited whenever this is possible, and linked to associated publications where this is appropriate.
It should be made openly accessible, in keeping with best practice for reproducibility of scientific results.
European and national data protection rules must be taken into account in relation to research data, as well as concerns regarding trade secrets and intellectual property rights, confidentiality, or national security.
At a minimum, metadata describing research data and its location and access rights should be deposited.

This policy is intended to encourage the improvement of discoverability and development of open access to research data over time. Please see the Irish Research Council (IRC) Open Access Policy for further details. In 2024, the IRC will merge with the SFI and we will update this Library Guide on changes in requirements for research data management.

The Irish Research Council has also created a DMP Tips and Advice document to help COALESCE and Laureate awardees update their data management plans.

You can use the DMP template from Science Europe to develop your DMP which can be found on DMPonline. DMPonline includes lots of helpful guidance from RCSI Library, and from the Digital Curation Centre.

When you create a new plan, select the Science Europe Template from the list of options.

Horizon Europe and MSCA

Horizon Europe requirements
Create a DMP for Horizon Europe-funded research

The beneficiary of a Horizon Europe grant must manage the digital research data generated during the project responsibly in line with the FAIR principles, and deposit the data in a trusted open access repository. The following actions should all be taken as outlined in the Model Grant Agreement:Beneficiaries must submit a DMP as a deliverable in accordance with the Grant Agreement (normally by month 6, a template is available here). An updated DMP deliverable must also be produced mid-project (for projects longer than twelve months) and at the end of the project (where relevant).

Beneficiaries must deposit the data in a trusted repository and ensure open access through the repository as soon as possible.
Research data made open access must be licensed under the latest version of a Creative Commons Attribution International Public Licence (CC BY), or under a Creative Commons Public Domain Dedication (CC0) or equivalent.
For calls with a condition relating to the European Open Science Cloud (EOSC): data must be deposited in trusted repositories that are federated in the EOSC in compliance with the EOSC requirements.
Metadata should be in line with the FAIR principles, in particular, it should be machine-actionable and follow a standardised format, in line with community standards. Metadata must also be open access under a CC0 public domain dedication or equivalent.
Open access is required as the default for research data under the principle ‘as open as possible, as closed as necessary’. This means that, as an exception, beneficiaries may or must keep certain data closed for justified reasons; beneficiaries must explain in the DMP the exception(s) under which they choose to or must restrict access to some or all of the research data.
In cases where data is closed but there are no compelling reasons that the related metadata should not be findable and accessible, it is recommended that open access be provided to the metadata of the data, with CC0 public domain dedication or equivalent if possible.

You can use the free online tool DMPOnline to create your Horizon Europe DMP. DMPOnline includes lots of helpful guidance from RCSI Library, Horizon Europe and from the Digital Curation Centre.

When you create a new plan, select the Horizon Europe Template from the list of options.

Please see the Horizon Europe Model Grant Agreement and for further details. The European Commission has also created a Horizon Europe: Open Science infographic to highlight the open science requirements of all Horizon Europe grants.

Wellcome Trust

Wellcome Trust requirements
Create an OMP for Wellcome Trust-funded research

All researchers that are funded by the Wellcome Trust are expected to manage their research outputs in a way that will achieve the greatest health benefit, maximising the availability of research data, software and materials with as few restrictions as possible.

Both applicants to Wellcome Trust funding, and recipients of this funding are expected to develop an Outputs Management Plan (which is similar to a Data Management Plan).

The Output Management Plan should be:

clear and concise. Don’t repeat methodological detail included elsewhere in your grant application
proportionate to the scale of the outputs generated and their likely level of value to researchers and other user
focused specifically on how outputs will be identified, managed and used to advance potential health benefit
structured to address the key issues outlined in the OMP template.

The grant applicant/awardee should review and adapt their OMP as the research progresses so the outputs deliver the greatest health benefit.

Read the full Data, software and materials management and sharing policy.

Wellcome also provide extensive guidance on completing the Outputs Management Plan and real life examples of what they consider to be good OMPs.

Wellcome recommend using their Wellcome Trust Template for your Outputs Management Plan.

You can use the free online tool DMPOnline to create your Wellcome OMP. DMPOnline includes lots of helpful guidance from RCSI Library, the Wellcome Trust and from the Digital Curation Centre.

When you create a new plan, select the Wellcome Trust Template from the list of options.

The Wellcome Trust has also created guidelines to help researchers complete the Outputs Management Plan and a range of other How To Guides related to FAIR data practices.

Horizon 2020

Horizon 2020 requirements
Create a DMP for Horizon 2020-funded research

Since the 2017 “Open Research Data” pilot, Horizon 2020 has supported the FAIR data principles, and has mandated open access to all research data with the possibility to opt out from this pilot. The Commission's approach is ‘as open as possible, as closed as necessary’ and the open access requirement only applies to research data related to scientific publications. They define research data to include statistics, results of experiments, measurements, observations resulting from fieldwork, survey results, interview recordings and images.

Some points of note for Horizon 2020 awardees:

A Data Management Plan (DMP) is required for all projects participating in the “Open Research Data” pilot. However, projects that opt out are still encouraged to submit a DMP on a voluntary basis.
Data management costs are fully eligible for funding under Article 6 and Article 6.2.D.3 of the H2020 Grant Agreement or under other Articles relevant for the cost category chosen.
Beneficiaries of ERC grants can opt out of sharing research data without having to give a reason.

Further resources

You can use the free online tool DMPOnline to create your Horizon 2020 DMP. DMPonline includes lots of helpful guidance from RCSI Library, Horizon and from the Digital Curation Centre.

When you create a new plan, select the Horizon 2020 Template from the list of options.

Please see the Horizon 2020 DMP Template for further details