In the preparation of an application for external funding, a data management plan is usually asked for, which is obligatory for the granting of funding.

Data management plans (DMP) are a central instrument in the management of research data. They fulfill several tasks:

• They document the planned and systematic handling of data in terms of “good scientific practice”.
• Writing and maintaining a DMP supports the methodical approach to handling data.
• A DMP enables the application to funding organizations.
• A DMP greatly facilitates communication with central services such as the university library, computer center, and subject repositories.
• A data set with a well-managed DMP greatly enhances its quality and gives the producer reputation.

There are few formal requirements for a DMP. Nevertheless, it must answer basic questions in a structured way, including workflows and technical implementation. Central is the selection of a suitable storage system.

The fact that standardization has not yet been developed means that DMPs have to be written with the target group in mind, especially when applying for funding. RDMG supports this process with pre-structured templates, text modules, knowledge of the technical possibilities and the workflows.