Funder data policies

Application

All Research Grants, Follow On Funding and Leadership Fellows proposals will need to include a Data Management Plan (max. 2 pages) as part of their application.

Data deposit and sharing

AHRC expects digital outputs to be freely available. Following the RCUK Common Principles on Data, metadata describing research data needs to be published within 12 months of data generation. The data management plan should "advise when you will be releasing and justify if not releasing inline with AHRC guidelines of a minimum of three years.”

Linking data and publications

The RCUK Common Principles on Data Policy states that “published results should always include information on how to access the supporting data.” Thus, publications should include a data access statement, linking to the deposited dataset or signposting if the data cannot be shared openly.

Data retention

AHRC does not specify a data retention period, but expects storage to be in line with the institution's data management policy.

Links

• AHRC research funding guide

Application

A concise (max. 1 page) data management plan is required.

Costs

If justifiable, funding to support data management and sharing (e.g. staffing, storage) can be requested as part of the full economic cost of a research project.

Data deposit and sharing

Data should be released in a timely and responsible manner, no later than the publication of main findings or within three years of data generation.

Data retention

Data must be maintained for ten years after completion of the project in accessible formats.

Compliance monitoring

Compliance will be monitored through Researchfish reporting.

Link

• BBSRC Data Sharing Policy

Application

No data management plan is required upon application, but EPSRC expects a data management plan to be in place.

Costs

Funding to support data management and sharing can be requested as part of the full economic cost of a research project.

Data deposit and sharing

Metadata describing research data needs to be published within twelve months of data generation. Research data should be published no later than the publication of findings.

Linking data and publications

The RCUK Common Principles on Data Policy states that “published results should always include information on how to access the supporting data.” Thus, publications should include a data access statement, linking to the deposited dataset or signposting if the data cannot be shared openly.

Data retention

Data must be maintained for 10 years after last access.

Compliance monitoring

EPSRC monitors progress and compliance on a case by case basis since 1 May 2015. Non-compliance will be investigated, and appropriate sanctions might be imposed.

Links

• EPSRC expectations on research data management 

Application stage

A data management plan (max. three pages) is required.

Costs

Appropriate funding to support data management and sharing will be provided if costs of implementation have been included in the data management plan.

Data deposit and sharing

Data should be made available through the ESRC data service providers (UK Data Service) or an appropriate responsible digital repository within three months of the end of the grant.

Linking data and publications

The RCUK Common Principles on Data Policy states that “published results should always include information on how to access the supporting data.” Thus, publications should include a data access statement, linking to the deposited dataset or signposting if the data cannot be shared openly.

Data retention

Not specified, but the UK Data Service will preserve data for the long term.

Links

• ESRC Research Data Policy  

Application

A data management plan (max. three pages, up to four pages for longitudinal studies) is an integral part of the application.

Costs

Costs related to data sharing (people, equipment, infrastructure and tools) should be included in the resources' section of the proposal form. If costs of managing legacy data and data sharing are substantial, funding for the following activities should be differentiated:

• Collecting and 'cleaning' new data
• Own research on newly-acquired and legacy data
• Ongoing data curation and preservation
• Providing access and data sharing

Data deposit and sharing

Valuable data arising from MRC-funded research has to be shared in a timely and responsible manner with as few restrictions as possible.

Linking data and publications

The RCUK Common Principles on Data Policy states that “published results should always include information on how to access the supporting data.” Thus, publications should include a data access statement, linking to the deposited dataset or signposting if the data cannot be shared openly.

Data retention

Data should be retained for at least 10 years after the study has been completed, in some cases (clinical research undertaken in MRC research units) for 20 years.

Links

• MRC Data Sharing Policy (PDF - 109KB) 
• MRC data sharing 

Application

A one-page outline data management plan is required as part of the application. A full data management plan needs to be submitted to NERC within three months of the project’s starting date.

Costs

All resources needed to implement the data management plan must be identified in the application.

Data deposit and sharing

Data should be made available through one of the NERC Data Centres at the end of a research project. Researchers’ right of first use is restricted to two years after data collection.

Linking data and publications

The RCUK Common Principles on Data Policy states that “published results should always include information on how to access the supporting data.” Thus, publications should include a data access statement, linking to the deposited dataset or signposting if the data cannot be shared openly.

Data retention

Not specified, but the NERC Data Centres will preserve data for the long term.

Compliance monitoring

Researchers not complying with the requirements “risk having award payments withheld or becoming ineligible for future funding from NERC”.

Links

• NERC Data Policy and Guidance Notes

Application

A data management plan – no longer than two pages - should be attached to the application.

Costs

STFC will consider costs associated with the data management plan as part of the grant review process.

Data deposit and sharing

Data should be made available after a limited period. Data underpinning publications should be made available within six months of the paper’s publication.

Linking data and publications

The RCUK Common Principles on Data Policy states that “published results should always include information on how to access the supporting data.” Thus, publications should include a data access statement, linking to the deposited dataset or signposting if the data cannot be shared openly.

Data retention

Original data should be retained for at least 10 years after the end of the project. Data that cannot be re-measured should be retained ‘in perpetuity’.

Links

• STFC Scientific Data Policy (PDF - 181KB)

Application

A data management plan is required as part of the application.

Costs

Resources for data management can be requested as part of the grant.

Data deposit and sharing

Data should, if possible, be made available at the same time as research papers on the findings are published.

Linking data and publications

“The Wellcome Trust expects all users of research data to acknowledge the sources of their data…”

Data retention

Data should be maintained in a secure environment for a minimum of 10 years.

Links

• Policy on data management and sharing 
• Developing a data management and sharing plan 

Application

No data management plan is needed, but good data management should be addressed under the impact criterion. A deliverable for an initial data management plan - at month 6 at the latest - should be included in the proposal.

Data Management Plans

At least three data management plans are required throughout the project. An initial version should be submitted within the first six months of the projects. More elaborated versions are expected by mid-term and final review of the project.  

Costs

Costs related to Open Data can be reimbursed during the duration of the project. 

Data deposit and sharing

Data underlying scientific publications should be shared to allow for the validation of results. Other data can be shared on a voluntary basis. The deposited data should be freely accessible and exploitable by third parties, following the FAIR data principles (making data findable, accessible, interoperable and reusable).

Links

• Guidelines on FAIR Data Management in Horizon 2020