To help university researchers navigate the complex national and international regulatory framework on the subject, the Open Science Commission has promoted the dissemination of the University Guidelines on Management of Research Data and Other Outcomes (in italian).
These guidelines are aimed at all affiliates of UniTrento, particularly those participating in projects or other research activities funded by public funds, for which different or additional contractual obligations regarding the openness of data and other research outcomes may be foreseen compared to what is already established by current legislation. If the research is funded by third parties and specific agreements exist regarding the management of data or other research outcomes, their access, and preservation, the obligations set forth in these agreements are in addition to what is summarized in the guidelines.
The key points of the guidelines can be summarized as follows:
- Researcher-centricity. Each affiliate decides if and when to open their data and other research outcomes. If they decide to do so, they must take into account current legislation.
- Free Use. Data must be archived and made freely available for both commercial and non-commercial use.
- Deposit. Data must be deposited in a certified digital archive (trusted repository) federated with EOSC, in compliance with FAIR principles and with appropriate metadata.
- License of Use. Data should be made accessible with a free-use license that guarantees traceability of uses and recognition of the original source.
- Preservation. A minimum preservation period of 10 years is recommended.
- Data Collection and Management. The correct collection, management, archiving, preservation, and dissemination of data and other research outcomes are the responsibility of individual affiliates.
- Data Management Plan. The preparation of a data management plan is recommended as it ensures that data are managed according to FAIR principles, that processing methods meet ethical and legal requirements, and that all necessary resources and measures for their proper management have been foreseen.
- Support offered by the University. The University offers support through a consultancy service for drafting the data management plan, a university archiving service (fee-based), and periodic training activities.