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Extension of the research data pilot

In the context of open science the goal of the European Commission is that the research data from Horizon 2020 projects are deposited as open data in a digital repository. For all new Horizon 2020 projects starting in 2017 Open Research Data will be the default option. The focus of the EC is on good data management, which means all parts of Horizon 2020 will be required to create a Data Management Plan (DMP).
The basic principles stay the same: to open and preserve data in a sustainable way.
The the Principal Investigator must:    
  • Develop a data management plan in the first 6 months of the project and keep it up-to-date throughout their project
  • Deposit research data in a suitable research data repository
  • Make sure third parties can freely access, mine, exploit, reproduce and disseminate (some of) the data
  • Make clear what tools will be needed to use the data to validate research results, or provide the tools themselves

But there are some notable differences in the newest guidelines of the EC for research data management.

Data management plan (DMP)
A data management plan documents the life-cycle of your data. It outlines what research data were collected, how they were collected and what you will do with your data during and after your research. For Horizon 2020 projects, a data management plan is required for the data needed to validate the results presented in a scientific publication, other data can be provided on a voluntary basis. In contrast to the previous guidelines, only one DMP per project is expected. So there is no need to provide an individual DMP for every dataset.
FAIR data management
The new guidelines see the introduction of the FAIR data management principles. FAIR stands for: Findable, Accessible, Interoperable and Re-usable.
FAIR principles were generated to improve the practices for data management and data-curation, and FAIR intends to describe the principles in a way that is domain-independent. The principles aim to help foresee possible hindrances at the start of the project and insure sustainable data preservation after the end of the project. A set of questions is provided in the EC guidelines on FAIR data management to guide projects towards FAIR data management.

It is not necesary to make all data open, exceptions for some or all datasets are possible. The aim is to make the research data generated by Horizon 2020 projects accessible with as few restrictions as possible, while at the same time protecting sensitive data.
Opting out is possible at any stage of the project.


FAIR data

How can OpenAIRE help?

OpenAIRE supports projects and researchers in complying to the EC's open research data policy and therefore developed supporting material to aid projects to comply with the new guidelines on FAIR data management.
We have compiled a list of the tools and resources OpenAIRE offers to assist in managing and preserving research data.

Information at the OpenAIRE portal

OpenAIRE.eu provides information on the Open Data guidelines, an overview of the requirements and tools to meet these:

 
guidedata factsheetsl

The extensive briefing paper gives an overview of research data management with practical sections about data management planning and archiving research data for re-use. It also gives background sections about making research data reusable, and an overview of stakeholders that are involved in data management.

Fact sheets

The factsheets by OpenAIRE provide overviews of EC Open Science policy and how to meet the requirements.
In regards to data managment, OpenAIRE created a factsheet with a general overiew of the Open Data requieremnts and one concentrating on Personal Data.

For more factsheets about Open Science policy, how to comply or join OpenAIRE, visit our support page.

Webinars

OpenAIRE facilitates Open Science training for European research and therefore organizes webinars with various presenters on a regular  basis. You can find all recordings of webinars, including the slides on our portal.

Check our events page for upcoming webinars.
 
Anonimysation tool

OpenAIRE is in the process of developing a data anonymization tool that will help data owners to safely share their data with experts and the scientific community. AMNESIA, a web or standalone service that can be loosely integrated and readily fit in the repository infrastructure, will be launched in a few weeks.

FAQs and helpdesk
If you still have questions about data management in Horzion2020 or other Open Science related issues you can always browse trough our FAQ page or contact our helpdesk.