Why it matters
Research funders increasingly require data management plans and open access to data where possible. Universities must store, curate and share growing volumes of research data.
Research data management covers storage, documentation, sharing and long-term preservation. Researchers need practical support and infrastructure to meet funder requirements without excessive extra work.
By the numbers
40.6%of researchers are familiar with the FAIR principles, up from 15.2% in 2018 1
69.2%say they receive too little credit for sharing data 1
2018
2025
Source: Digital Science, Figshare and Springer Nature, The State of Open Data 2025, January 2026
What's changing
- FAIR principles guide how data is found and reused.
- Funders require data management plans.
- Demand for high-performance computing and storage is growing.
How leaders are responding
- Providing shared infrastructure and data stewards.
- Building data management into grant processes.
- Balancing openness with security and privacy.
What good looks like
- Data management plans supported by central services
- Repositories and storage costed into research bids
- Credit for data sharing in hiring and promotion
What to watch
- Funder policies on open data.
- National and European research data infrastructure.
- Data management requirements for AI research.
Where to start
Offer data management support at the proposal stage, so plans and costs are included in grant applications.
Questions for your leadership team
- Do researchers have the support they need?
- How do we fund long-term storage?
- Which data must be restricted?
