We can register a DOI for your dataset through DataCite - this gives a persistent link and can make it easier to cite.
For more details see our DOI for data page.
Note: There are additional steps for depositing data at the end of a project. Please contact ResearchData@soton.ac.uk for further guidance.
The UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) have agreed a Common Principles on Data Policy and this states that "research data are a public good ...which should be made openly available with as few restrictions as possible in a timely and responsible manner that does not harm intellectual property". Although each Council has developed their own specific policies and requirements to take account of the disciplines involved, there is an expectation that Researchers will:
The DCC has pages summarising individual funder policies:
It can be daunting if you have never written a DMP before. You may find it useful to look at successful DMPs:
Data Management Policy & Procedures http://www.calendar.soton.ac.uk/sectionIV/research-data-management.html
Data Security Policy http://www.calendar.soton.ac.uk/sectionIV/dppolicy.pdf, and
http://www.uhs.nhs.uk/Media/Controlleddocuments/Governanceandsafety/Data-protection-and-confidentiality-policy.pdf
Data Sharing Guidance http://library.soton.ac.uk/researchdata/access
Other: http://library.soton.ac.uk/researchdata/retention
Other http://library.soton.ac.uk/researchdata/destruction
Metadata records for the data (and published outputs) will also be maintained on the University of Southampton Institutional Research Repository. In accordance with the University’s Data policy, the data will be archived from a minimum of ten years after publication or last access, whichever is longer (see http://www.calendar.soton.ac.uk/sectionIV/research-data-management.html). DOIs will be issued for the dataset and data subsets as per the University’s DOI policy (see http://library.soton.ac.uk/identifiers/doipolicy).
Future users of the data will be bound by data sharing agreements. Where suitable a licence (currently Creative Commons) can be applied to data deposited in the repository.
All data generated will immediately be transferred and stored in the University of Southampton iSolutions secure research data storage service. The data stored within this facility is regularly backed up and a copy of the back-up, regularly off-sited to a secure location for disaster recovery purposes. Only authorised users can access data stored within this facility and it is managed under the governance of the University of Southampton Research Data Management Policy (http://www.calendar.soton.ac.uk/sectionIV/research-data-management.html)
The University of Southampton will hold copyright in the primary data generated by the research throughout the project. The University will also hold the copyright in any database created to collate already published data, however if necessary consent will be sought and acknowledgment will be provided to third parties who may retain rights over some of the data used.
“The University is working towards the principles outlined in ISO27001.”
Funders may also require some or all data to be held. While they may not have prescribed retention periods, all UK funding councils have a ‘sharing’ policy, as do other significant funders, such as Cancer Research UK and the Wellcome Trust. This implies the need for data to be held in a safe and an accessible way. The Digital Curation Centre has a helpful overview of funders’ data policies
Council/Organisation |
Data Availability |
Retention |
Repository |
Exceptions/comments |
| University of Southampton | In line with funders sharing policy | Min. rolling 10 years from date of last access | Institutional (ePrints Soton) or subject-based |
applies to signficant data; data catalogue record entry - ePrints Soton |
| AHRC | Within 3 months of end of project | Min. 3 years from end of project; ADS longer |
Archaeology Data Service*, Institutional or subject-based |
*Contact ADS within 3 months of start of proposed research |
| BBSRC | Timely; no later than publication of main findings; best practice | 10 years from end of project | ||
| Cancer Research UK | Timely; no later than acceptance for publication of the main findings | Curated throughout its life-cycle for a min. of 5 years after end of project | Limited period of exclusive use for primary research | |
| EPSRC | Metadata available within 12 months of generation; data - timely | 10 years from the date of last access | ||
| ESRC | Within 3 months of end of project |
UK Data Archive; UK Data Service |
Limited defined period of exclusive use for primary research team The ESRC UK Data Service are responsible for ensuring long-term access to the data |
|
| MRC | Timely | 10 years from generation (in original form) | ||
| NERC | As soon as possible after the end of data collection | NERC Data Centre, where available and data appropriate |
Embargo allowed; normally max. 2 years Criteria to identify data sets with long-term value found in NERC's Data Value Checklist |
|
| STFC | Within 6 months of relevant publication |
Min. 10 years after end of project for data that can be reproduced; "In perpetuity" for data that cannot be re-measured or reproduced. |
Data should be made publically available after a limited period, unless there are specific reasons why this should not happen |
|
| Wellcome Trust | Timely; linked to publication | Min. 10 years |
In 2016 HEFCE, RCUK, Wellcome and Universities UK launched their Concordat on Open Research Data [pdf].
