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SND's Checklist for data management plans

To assist researchers in writing a data management plan, SND has developed a comprehensive DMP checklist. It can serve as support in identifying which parts of data management are relevant to your specific project, and it is adapted to current conditions and regulations for researchers in Sweden.

SND’s DMP checklist is designed to be used throughout a research project and for different disciplines, data types, requirements from research funding organizations, as well as various legal requirements. It is regularly updated to comply with recommendations from, for instance, Horizon EuropeOpens in a new tab and Science EuropeOpens in a new tab.

You can download a zip-file with the checklist in an editable text formatOpens in a new tab from SND (Swedish and English version in .docx and .rtf format).

If you want to view or download the checklist in a PDF format you can do so on Zenodo:

If you are applying for research grants, the research funding organization may have specific requirements for what information should be included in a data management plan, and a limit for how long it can be.

How to use the checklist

Start by reading the checklist to get an overview of what it contains. Identify which parts of it that are relevant to your research project.  

Then start writing your project’s data management plan by entering the information you already have. Remember that a data management plan is a living document that should be updated as the research project progresses. Contact your local research data supportOpens in a new tab if you need assistance with your data management plan.

SND’s checklist is divided into seven main sections:

  1. Overview. Who is the primary investigator? Which higher education institution or organization is the research principal? Who in the project team is responsible for what? Are there specific guidelines for the DMP that you need to follow, for example from your university or a funding organization?
  2. Protect the research data. Does the research need ethical approvalOpens in a new tab? Do you need to follow a policy on information security and how are your data classified in terms of confidential information, personal data, or research collaboration agreements? Document if you have made an information classification. If you will be processing personal dataOpens in a new tab, document how you will comply with GDPR and ethical requirements. Will you work with copyright protectedOpens in a new tab data; if so, how are you going to manage them?
  3. Collect/produce research data. Describe which type(s) of data you will be using in the project, both reused existing data and data you will produce or collect.
  4. Document the research data. What type of documentation and metadata will you produce?  
  5. Organize the research data. Describe the strategy for file names and folder structure you plan to use in the project, and what rules you have set for file versioning, data storage, and routines for making backups of the files. If possible, describe which file formats you will use.  
  6. Costs for managing the research data. What budget do you estimate you will need for personnel, storage, technical hardware and software throughout the project?
  7. Preserve and publish the research data. Which data will you be publishing with open or restricted access? Which data repositories are best suited for your type of research data, and what are their requirements on documentation and metadata? Who is the research principalOpens in a new tab, who is responsible for archiving the research material, and how do you plan for long-term preservation?