Data Management

FAIR- and GDPR-compliant Management of Research Data

Privanova’s research data management and DMP drafting services are designed to provide researchers, universities, and innovative SMEs with expert guidance and support during the proposal and implementation phases of EU-funded projects. Our experienced team will help you navigate the European Commission’s Open Science requirements, ensuring your data management strategy aligns seamlessly with the FAIR principles (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable).

We will help you establish clear, precise procedures for data handling, sharing, and preservation. Whether you are a recipient of a Horizon Europe, European Innovation Council (EIC), Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA), or European Defence Fund (EDF) grant, we ensure that your data practices are well-aligned with EU policies. We make sure that your project adheres to the “as open as possible, as closed as necessary” principle, balancing Open Science mandates with IP protection, GDPR compliance, and strict security requirements.

“Privanova’s deep understanding of EU open science policies and their hands-on approach to drafting our Data Management Plan were instrumental in both securing our grant and ensuring a smooth, compliant project execution. Our DMP goes beyond simple management of research information and helps us handle GDPR compliance issues as well as address potential ethics risks related to the processing of personal data.”

Dr. Holger Nitsch, Director of Centre of Excellence for Police and Security Research, University of Applied Sciences for Public Service in Bavaria, Department of Policing, Coordinator of CYBERSPACE (GA-101038738), IAMI (GA-101168272).

Roles & Process

The first step in our collaboration involves establishing a robust data management strategy tailored to the specific requirements of your funding call. For any EU-funded project including Horizon Europe, EIC, MSCA, and EDF proposals, evaluators heavily scrutinize your commitment to Open Science and data sharing.

This is a critical step in your application process. We will help you define how your research data will be collected, processed, and stored, demonstrating a clear adherence to FAIR data principles right from the start. By embedding a strong data governance framework into your proposal’s methodology and implementation sections, together we will maximize your chances of a successful evaluation.

Following a successful grant award, beneficiaries of EU grants are legally required to submit a comprehensive initial Data Management Plan, typically within the first six months (M6) of the project.

At this stage, our experts will assist your consortium in drafting this mandatory, highly detailed deliverable. We will cover all critical evaluation criteria: data utility, metadata standards, repository choices, curation, and cross-border transfers etc. We will also carefully map out ethical constraints, personal data handling (GDPR), and intellectual property rights. For our EDF clients, we strictly tailor the DMP to meet the unique, highly sensitive security and confidentiality requirements inherent to defense research.

A Data Management Plan is not a static document; it is a living roadmap that must evolve alongside your research. Unlike one-off submissions, managing research data is organized into periodic reviews throughout the project lifecycle.

At this stage, we will assist you with continuous DMP updates in line with periodic reporting requirements, consortium changes, or methodological shifts. Towards the end of your project, we will help finalize the DMP to ensure all generated datasets are properly archived, published, or securely restricted. Our aim is to guarantee full compliance with European Commission audits, safeguarding your funding and ensuring the long-term legacy and impact of your research assets.

Considering expert support for your project’s DMP?