Research Data Management Policies

Many funding agencies here and abroad now require the inclusion of a data management plan as part of the funding application process. Often this plan consists of a two-page document outlining strategies for managing research data throughout the project and beyond.  In Canada, the three federal funding agencies have adopted a statement of principles to guide the research community during the development of Tri-Agency data management requirements. 

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Canadian funders

On June 15th, 2016, the Tri-Agency Council released the Tri-Agency Statement of Principles on Digital Data Management. This statement outlines "the Agencies" overarching expectations regarding research data management, and the responsibilities of researchers, research communities, research institutions, and research funders in meeting these expectations.

On May 25th, 2018, the Tri-Agency released the Draft Tri-Agency Research Data Management Policy for Consultation. The draft policy outlines proposed requirements related to institutional data management strategies, researcher data management plans, and data deposit.

The Canadian Tri-Agency Open Access Policy on Publications was released in early 2015. Within this new policy are specific requirements for CIHR-funded projects awarded January 1, 2008 and onward. Researchers must comply with mandatory open access and preservation requirements for research data.

The Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council's SSHRC Data Archiving Policy stipulates that grant recipients must preserve research outputs in associated institutional or data repositories as a funding requirement.

In May 2017, Polar Knowledge Canada released the Data Management Principles and Guidelines for Polar Research and Monitoring in Canada which outlines principles and guidelines for the management of data and information generated through Canadian polar research and monitoring programs. The principles and guidelines apply to all research and monitoring activities that are funded or supported by participating programs, which include the Northern Contaminants Program (NCP), Nunavut General Monitoring Plan (NGMP) and Polar Knowledge Canada (POLAR).

The Government of Canada Access to Research Results: Guiding Principles are principles intended to guide the policies of Canadian funding agencies.

Foreign funders

U.S.

National Institutes of Health (NIH): NIH Data Sharing Policy and Implementation Guidance

National Science Foundation (NSF) : Data Management Policies

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA): Data Sharing for NOAA Grants Procedural Directives

Institute of Education Sciences: Implementation Guide for Public Access to Research Data

Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation: Data Sharing Philosophy and Data Sharing and Management Plans (pdf)

United Kingdom

Digital Curation Centre:  Overview of UK funders’ data policies

Sherpa/Juliet: Research funders’ open access policies

Journal policies

Journal publishers are moving to adopt data depositing requirements as part of the article acceptance process. When publishing your research, check the journal policies on data deposit requirements. Researchers may/may not have the option to deposit data in a repository of their choice.

Remember, you can choose to deposit your articles and/or data in one of our institutional repositories.

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