OpenAIRE and FAIR Data Expert Group survey about Horizon 2020 template for Data Management Plans

This dataset is published in 2017 by the OpenAIRE project and the FAIR Data Expert Group.

It contains two survey data files, two pdf-files summarising the results in a report and an infographic, and a Readme.txt file.

The OpenAIRE project supports the open science ambitions of the European Commission. The project and in particular the Research Data Management team provide support, training and information on the Open Research Data Pilot. In this context, a survey was carried out to collect feedback on the Horizon 2020 template for Data Management Plans (DMPs). The team collaborated with the FAIR data expert group, which is providing recommendations to the European Commission on turning FAIR data into reality. One of the specific tasks of the Expert Group is contributing to an evaluation of the Horizon 2020 approach to DMPs, including future revisions of the template and the development of additional sector/ discipline-specific guidance. The aim of the survey was to collect experiences of researchers and DMP reviewers with the DMP template and guidelines on FAIR data management in Horizon 2020. The survey assesses the usefulness of the guidelines and any aspects that are confusing and unclear to determine what improvements can be made.

Feedback was sought from both researchers and research support staff. The survey was initially scheduled to run from 22 May to 21 June 2017. Several organisations were asked to help announce the survey, including OpenAIRE’s National Open Access Desks, the FAIR data expert group, FOSTER, LIBER, and the RDA Interest Group on Active DMPs. When the first survey responses showed only a small share of researchers,  more stakeholders were contacted to specifically target this community. The European Research Area was approached, whose project officers circulated the survey call among award holders of EC projects. Early-career researchers were also informed through the YEAR network and EURODOC. This resulted in an extension of the survey to 21 July 2017.

At the close of the survey on 21 July 2017, a total number of 289 responses were reached. 50% of the respondents indicated that they were researchers, and 60% that they were (also) research support staff. OpenAIRE and the FAIR data expert group are very pleased with this balanced outcome and would like to thank all colleagues and organisations who promoted the survey, as well as everyone who took part in it.