DAMAP-PL

This project deploys DAMAP, an open-source tool for machine-actionable Data Management Plans (maDMPs), within the EOSC Polish Node (EOSC-PL). DAMAP guides researchers through creating DMPs, reuses existing information to reduce duplication and improve quality, and aligns fully with the RDA DMP Common Standard and Science Europe’s requirements. By implementing the DMP Interoperability Framework (DMP-IF) developed in the EOSC-INFRA OSTrails project, DAMAP transforms DMPs from static documents into living resources that support automated research workflows.

The project will deliver three concrete outputs: an operational DAMAP instance configured for Polish stakeholders and connected to relevant information sources; training materials and workshops built around scientific use cases spanning domains such as urban infrastructure, economics, biotechnology, and green energy, each represented by a completed DMP; and a sustainability roadmap addressing the long-term organisational, legal, and financial requirements for running DAMAP as a stable service within EOSC-PL.

For researchers, DAMAP’s structured workflows and compatibility with National Science Center Poland (NCN) templates reduce compliance effort significantly. For data stewards, integration with existing repositories and catalogues creates a single, coherent entry point for research data planning, eliminating fragmented systems and repeated data entry. Crucially, DAMAP implements the DMP-IF from OSTrails, meaning future integrations remain straightforward and the Polish EOSC Node is not locked into a single solution.

Sustaining DAMAP as a long-term service requires more than technical deployment, which is why the sustainability roadmap is a central deliverable. It will be grounded in qualitative and quantitative evidence from early adopters across Poland and will address division of responsibilities, realistic cost models, GDPR-compliant data-processing agreements, contract templates, and operational recommendations for running DAMAP within the Node.

Training activities are built around real scientific use cases, giving researchers a practical view of DAMAP in action and helping data stewards understand how to embed it into discipline-specific workflows. Activities include a webinar on preparing DMPs compliant with NCN, Science Europe, and Horizon Europe requirements; hands-on workshops and Q&A sessions delivered in collaboration with Gdańsk Tech Open Science Competence Center and the Competence Network for Open Science; and use-case-based documentation providing step-by-step guidance across the research lifecycle. All materials, including the sustainability roadmap, will be contributed to the EOSC Academy in open and reusable form, enabling other EOSC Nodes and institutions to adopt DAMAP or replicate the training approach.

This project directly supports key European policies on research data management, most notably the EOSC Interoperability Framework, FAIR principles, and the DMP requirements promoted by Horizon Europe, Science Europe, and national funders. By deploying DAMAP within EOSC-PL, the project strengthens alignment with these policies through standardised, structured DMPs that can be reused across systems and evaluated automatically. DAMAP’s native support for Science Europe and Horizon Europe templates ensures researchers can fulfil funder obligations without additional administrative burden.

For researchers, the benefits are concrete and immediate. DAMAP reduces the time needed to prepare DMPs by reusing existing information and enabling higher levels of automation. It supports the import of metadata from catalogues and repositories (for example, reused datasets via DOIs) and serves as a reliable information source for other services, preventing repetitive data entry. The result is higher quality DMPs produced with less effort and greater consistency, which in turn helps funders by increasing compliance and improving the overall quality of submitted plans.

Participating organisations each gain something tangible. TU Wien benefits from expanding the open-source DAMAP community and leveraging synergies with ongoing developments. Cyfronet gains a relevant, high-value addition to the national service landscape. For the Gdańsk Tech data steward team, the outcome is higher quality DMPs and improved user satisfaction, reducing support overhead.

The project also enhances FAIRness by producing machine-actionable DMPs built on the DMP-IF, making information readable by both humans and machines: a key step toward truly interoperable research data management across the EOSC ecosystem.

The project is designed to produce outcomes that remain valuable well beyond the funding period. DAMAP is open-source and already in use at three Austrian universities, meaning maintenance and development are not dependent on any single project. By deploying it within EOSC-PL and documenting all steps, configurations, and integration points, the project creates a blueprint that other institutions and nodes can readily reuse.

Scalability is straightforward by design. DAMAP uses standardised APIs to access services, data catalogues, and knowledge graphs, meaning any organisation with similar components can replicate the setup with minimal adaptation. The multi-use-case approach reinforces this: by producing DMPs across different research domains, the project generates widely applicable reference materials that reduce adoption barriers and demonstrate the tool’s versatility across disciplines.

The training programme, spanning webinars, workshops, and data steward-oriented materials, builds capacity that persists after the project ends. Newly trained data stewards act as multipliers within their institutions, supporting continued adoption and informal peer learning. All training materials and use case documentation will be contributed to the EOSC Academy, making them accessible for long-term reuse across other EOSC Nodes.

The sustainability roadmap is central to long-term viability. Co-created with stakeholders, it addresses cost models, responsibilities, legal and GDPR requirements, and operational procedures, giving institutions the clarity they need to commit to DAMAP as a stable service and make informed decisions about implementation.

Finally, DAMAP’s implementation of the DMP Interoperability Framework ensures it can coexist with other DMP tools, keeping it adaptable to evolving national and European service landscapes and supporting both continued use within Poland and wider uptake across EOSC.