Planning

Data management planning should be considered for every research project from the outset. This is important to identify potential problems, costs or required resources at an early stage. Typical challenges with respect to data management are the IT resources required, dealing with contracts such as data usage agreements, the correct handling of personal data in accordance with data protection law, and the preparation of research data for publication at the end of the project. It is not uncommon for research projects to require the development of research software or the design of data transfer and storage solutions.

The planning of data management is usually laid down in a data management plan (DMP), which is updated, supplemented and refined over the course of the project. The Thünen Institute's Data Policy as well as many research funding organisations require the creation of a data management plan. The Service Unit Research Data Management supports the scientists of the Thünen Institute with writing and updating DMPs. The service unit supports the planning of software development, of technical solutions for data storage and of data exchange strategies for scientific collaboration.