Research projects in which the Istituto Nazionale di Ricerca Metrologica (INRiM) participates or coordinates within the framework of the European Partnership on Metrology (EPM) are of particular interest, as they represent one of the most common funding resources.
Mandatory reporting requirements for these projects include preparing a Data Management Plan (DMP) within six months of the project’s start. The latest available template (2023) for DMP preparation can be downloaded from the following link and should be drafted following these guidelines.
Currently, the template takes the form of a questionnaire comprising 42 questions about the specifics of the data generated in the project, their accessibility mode (open/closed), associated licenses, etc.
An example of a properly completed DMP from a previous EMRP project in 2019 can be downloaded from the following link.
Additional resources to simplify the process of defining and preparing the DMP for ongoing EPM projects are available on a dedicated platform maintained by the TC-IM 1449 project, "Research Data Management in European Metrology", a working group composed of members of European National Metrology Institutes (NMIs). This service is available online at the following link, along with a user manual.
Recommended tips for preparing a DMP:
- Be concise and specific.
- Use structured formats: tables and bullet points.
- Start early: drafting a DMP can take time.
- Avoid generic statements like "large data size" or "data will be made available."
- Avoid making unrealistic promises.
- Think broadly: consider reusing existing data and include software and algorithms.
- Take inspiration from other DMPs, but differentiate your plan where necessary.
- If uncertain, admit it: mention unresolved aspects and state that they will be addressed later.
- Keep the DMP updated: it’s a "living" document that evolves with the project.
Further information can be found at the following links: