Open Research Data

Research data should be freely accessible to everyone – for scientists as well as for the general public.

The SNSF agrees with this principle. Since October 2017, researchers have to include a data management plan (DMP) in their funding application for most of the funding schemes. At the same time, the SNSF expects that data generated by funded projects are publicly accessible in digital databases provided there are no legal, ethical, copyright or other issues.

Please consult the webpages of the different funding schemes to see whether a DMP is required when submitting an application.

SNSF policy on Open Research Data

“Research data are the evidence that underpins the answer to the research question, and can be used to validate findings regardless of its form (e.g. print, digital, or physical).”
Concordat on Open Research Data, published on 28 July 2016

The SNSF values research data sharing as a fundamental contribution to the impact, transparency and reproducibility of scientific research. In addition to being carefully curated and stored, the SNSF believes research data should be shared as openly as possible.

The SNSF therefore expects all its funded researchers

to store the research data they have worked on and produced during the course of their research work,
to share these data with other researchers, unless they are bound by legal, ethical, copyright, confidentiality or other clauses, and
to deposit their data and metadata onto existing public repositories in formats that anyone can find, access and reuse without restriction.

Research data is collected, observed or generated factual material that is commonly accepted in the scientific community as necessary to document and validate research findings.

Guidelines and Regulations

SNSF guidelines for researchers

The SNSF has elaborated guidelines for researchers concerning the Data Management Plans (DMPs).

SNSF regulations

The regulations related to the SNSF policy on Open Research Data can be found in the Funding Regulations and in the General Implementation Regulations.

FAIR Data Principles for Research Data Management

FAIR Data Principles

FAIR is a set of guiding principles to make data Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Re-usable.

Data repositories

Finding the "perfect" repository providing all necessary features to host FAIR data is challenging. To make the transition towards FAIR research data easier, the SNSF decided to fix a set of minimal criteria that repositories have to fulfil to conform with the FAIR data principles.

Initiatives and Strategies

Landscape and cost analysis of data repositories

Which data repositories are currently being used by Swiss researchers? What characteristics do they have and what are their costs? These questions are the focus of a study, jointly commissioned by the SNSF and swissuniversities. The mandate was awarded to the company vdh-IT of Dr. Markus von der Heyde from Weimar. vdH-IT will base its analysis on surveys with researchers and managers of repositories. The results are expected by the end of 2018.

Call for tenders

SNSF Workshop on Open Data in Science

At an international workshop on 14 September 2015, the SNSF discussed the foundations of Open Research Data strategies. The workshop focused on three main areas: (1) Potentials and Challenges: Researchers' Perspective, (2) Policies and Measures: Positioning of Science Funding Agencies and (3) Solutions: Effective Data Storage and Curation.

Workshop report

Concordat on Open Research Data

On 28 July 2016, the four main UK funding agencies launched a concordat that proposes a series of clear and practical principles for working with research data.

Concordat on Open Research Data

Amsterdam Call for Action on Open Science

The Call for Action was the result of the conference "Open Science - From Vision to Action", which took place in Amsterdam on 4/5 April 2016, on the occasion of the EU presidency of the Netherlands.

Amsterdam Call for Action on Open Science

Horizon 2020: Open Data Pilot

Since January 2017, all researchers submitting a project proposal in the context of Horizon 2020 have automatically been included in the Open Data pilot.

FAIR Data Management in Horizon 2020

Science Europe Guidance Document

Science Europe proposes a pragmatic solution for the preparation and control of Data Management Plans (DMPs) through the concept of Data Domain Protocols (DDPs).

Science Europe Guidance Document

OECD Paper on Business Models for Sustainable Research Data Repositories

This document provides a set of recommendations for developing sustainable business models for research data repositories.

OECD (2017), "Business models for sustainable research data repositories", OECD Science, Technology and Industry Policy Papers, No. 47, OECD Publishing, Paris

Additional information

SNSF "Grant Offices Event"

Slides presented during the SNSF "Grant Offices Event" on the 26^th and 28^th of April 2017

Presentation Grant Offices (PDF, updated 10 July 2017)

Digital Curation Centre

The Digital Curation Centre (DCC) is a centre of expertise in digital curation. The DCC provides case studies, online services and training programmes.

Digital Curation Centre

Data Management and Sharing Guidelines Issued by UK Data Archives

UK Data Archives have published guidelines for researchers on how to manage and share research data.

UK Data Archive – Managing and Sharing Data (PDF)

The P-5 Programme 2017-2020 "Scientific information"

The P-5 Programme of swissuniversities is the continuation of the SUC P-2 programme which aims to bring together the currently disparate efforts of the higher education institutions to curate data and make it accessible.

re3data.org

re3data.org is the largest and most comprehensive registry of data repositories available on the web. It has grown steadily since its launch four years ago to cover a wide range of disciplines from around the world.

re3data.org

Peer Reviewers’ Openness Initiative

Scientists have launched an initiative to make open research an integral part of publishing data. They have stated that they will not act as reviewers whenever open data sharing is not stated.

CoreTrustSeal

CoreTrustSeal proposes a certification for trustworthy data repositories.

CoreTrustSeal

DataCite

In order to give credit to a data set that has been re-used in another paper it needs to be citeable, which calls for persistent identifiers. DataCite is a non-profit organisation that aims to develop and support methods of finding, identifying and citing data.

DataCite

FAQ

a) How do I submit my DMP?

The DMP is an integral part of any project funding application. The SNSF platform for submitting proposals, mySNF, provides a specific section for writing a DMP. Applicants cannot submit individually generated DMPs.
Information about the standard contents of the DMPs required by the SNSF can be found on the SNSF webpage for Open Research Data.
The standard contents of the DMPs

If this answer has not been helpful to you, please do not hesitate to write to us.
b) Will my DMP be evaluated?

No. The DMP does not undergo any scientific evaluation and therefore does not influence the rating of a proposal. Nevertheless, all questions raised in the DMP guidelines have to be addressed precisely and coherently. Missing or inaccurate statements need to be added/revised before the funds for a successful grant application can be transferred.

If this answer has not been helpful to you, please do not hesitate to write to us.
c) Can I revise my DMP?

Yes. DMPs are dynamic and can be updated on mySNF during the entire funding period. The DMP cannot be modified any longer once the final scientific report has been accepted.

If this answer has not been helpful to you, please do not hesitate to write to us.
d) Will my DMP be freely available?

Yes. During the entire lifetime of an SNF-funded project, researchers may revise their DMP. Once the project comes to an end and its final scientific report is approved, the DMP will be included in the SNSF's P3 database.
SNSF's P3 database

If this answer has not been helpful to you, please do not hesitate to write to us.
e) Do you have examples for DMPs?

Many examples and descriptions of DMPs can be found on the website of the Digital Curation Centre. Other examples are provided by the Swiss DLCM project.
- Digital Curation Centre
- Swiss DLCM
If this answer has not been helpful to you, please do not hesitate to write to us.
f) Which data need to be shared?

The SNSF expects its funded researchers to share at least all data underlying a publication, meaning that these data have to be directly and freely available and deposited on a FAIR data repository. Shared data must enable other researchers to reproduce the published study.
For more information, please refer to the SNSF guidelines.
Open Research Data: SNSF issues guidelines for data management plan

If this answer has not been helpful to you, please do not hesitate to write to us.
g) What does SNSF mean by "data underlying a publication"?

SNSF funded researchers are expected to openly share all data needed to make their publication reproducible. Hence, data presented in a publication has to be shared. Data that is not necessary to reproduce the results presented in a publication does not have to be shared.

If this answer has not been helpful to you, please do not hesitate to write to us.
h) Can I also share data which has not been published?

Yes. Researchers decide whether they want to share additional data they have worked on and generated in the course of their research work, unless they are subject to legal, ethical, copyright, confidentiality or other constraints.

If this answer has not been helpful to you, please do not hesitate to write to us.
i) What if I can't share my data?

Some data may be subject to legal, ethical, copyright, confidentiality or other constraints. Such restrictions must be clearly described and justified in the DMP. They will be reviewed by the SNSF Administrative Offices. Embargo periods are only possible under exceptional circumstances and based on the aforementioned constraints.

If this answer has not been helpful to you, please do not hesitate to write to us.
j) My research is based on confidential or sensitive data. How can I share them?

Sensitive data does not preclude sharing, unless the rights and privacy of the subjects cannot be protected. For example, before initiating any studies involving patients, carefully consider the study design, the informed consent documents and the structure of the resulting data.

If this answer has not been helpful to you, please do not hesitate to write to us.
k) When do I have to share my data?

Researchers funded by the SNSF are expected to make all data underlying a publication publicly accessible on a FAIR repository as soon as their publication is available.

If this answer has not been helpful to you, please do not hesitate to write to us.
l) To which open research data costs does the SNSF contribute?

The SNSF is aware that it takes time and money to ensure adequate data management. Therefore it allows applicants to request funds for data upload (but not download), data preparation and validation (data stewardship). The SNSF may allocate up to CHF 10,000 for these activities.

If this answer has not been helpful to you, please do not hesitate to write to us.
m) Does the SNSF contribute to workshops on open research data?

Yes. Research communities that want to discuss best-practices in connection with open research data issues (e.g. how to best write a DMP, which data formats to employ, which repositories are most suitable, etc.) can apply for SNSF support under the new funding scheme "Scientific Exchanges".

If this answer has not been helpful to you, please do not hesitate to write to us.
n) I have other questions. Who do I contact?

Please contact us at ord@snf.ch

If this answer has not been helpful to you, please do not hesitate to write to us.
o) In which language has the DMP to be written?

The DMP has to be written in the same language as the research plan.

If this answer has not been helpful to you, please do not hesitate to write to us.
p) Preservation and long-term storage of research data

The SNSF incorporated the preservation of research data in its policy on Open Research Data. However, the SNSF does not define a specific timeframe, since this can vary between disciplines or research topics. As a general rule, the SNSF recommends to store research data for 10 years.

If this answer has not been helpful to you, please do not hesitate to write to us.

News

Protocols to simplify data management

30.01.2018

Science Europe has proposed a pragmatic approach to writing and assessing data management plans (DMPs) by introducing Domain Data Protocols (DDPs). As a member of Science Europe, the SNSF supports this initiative.

Protocols to simplify data management: Details
Data management: final specifications

12.09.2017

All new project funding applications must include a data management plan (DMP). A draft DMP will be accepted if considered plausible by the SNSF.

Data management: final specifications: Details
Data management: reserve enough time

27.07.2017

Two months before the October submission deadline, the SNSF would like to remind researchers to prepare their data management plan (DMP) in good time.

Data management: reserve enough time: Details
Data management: SNSF guidelines for researchers

11.05.2017

What should go into the data management plans of applications for SNSF project funding? Detailed guidelines now tell researchers what they need to know.

Data management: SNSF guidelines for researchers: Details
Towards Open Research Data

06.03.2017

Researchers who are applying for SNSF project funding will have to supply a data management plan (DMP) as of October 2017.

Towards Open Research Data: Details

Contact

Open Research Data
E-mail ord@snf.ch

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