ZB MED explained: Data management plan

What exactly is a data management plan (DMP) and what is it used for? In this video, Sophie Boße, training coordinator in the NFDI consortium FAIRagro at ZB MED, explains what function data management plans fulfil and why they are not just another ‘annoying’ document that has to be submitted for research funding.
After all, a data management plan is a living document that accompanies the entire research process and can ultimately save a lot of time, work and nerves. It regulates the short and long-term handling of the data generated during a research project: From clarifying which data is generated, in what form and to what extent, to responsibilities and accountabilities, to long-term archiving and possible ethical and legal aspects.
A data management plan is therefore a powerful tool in research data management. Many institutions and research funders offer ready-made templates and questionnaires to help with this. ZB MED, for example, offers the RDMO4Life tool, which helps to create and manage data management plans.