DMPonline.be supports researchers in creating data management plans

A data management plan (DMP) is a formal document that explains how research data will be handled, during and after the research project. Such a plan is often already mandatory for scientific research funded by certain entities. Using a detailed questionnaire that they go through, researchers can easily and efficiently set up a data management plan that meets all the necessary requirements. It is also possible to collaborate with other researchers on the same DMP.

Open science

Depending on the type of research project and the funding party/parties, the tool suggests a specific template. Certain templates have a section dedicated to ‘FAIR’ data. This allows researchers to think early on about how the research data they generate can be easily retrieved and made accessible, exchangeable and reusable.

The principle of ‘FAIR’ data is one of the pillars of the European Open Science Cloud (EOSC). The aim of this is to create a new European web of data as a means of stimulating interdisciplinary research, thereby boosting science and the economy.

Belnet as a central point of contact

DMPonline.be has been hosted by Belnet for several years now. Users can easily and securely authenticate themselves via the Belnet R&E Federation or via ORCID. With the recent commissioning of a third data centre for the Belnet service infrastructure, very high availability is also guaranteed.

Since 2017, the management of DMPonline.be had been in the hands of the DMPbelgium Consortium, currently consisting of 18 members from the education and research sectors. In September, there was a migration to a new version of the software that offers numerous additional features.

From 1 January 2022, Belnet will take over the management of DMPonline.be and act as a central point of contact for the members. Besides the operational and technical aspects, Belnet will also be responsible for the further evolution of the platform, in line with users' needs.