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Europe is planning its tenth research framework program, FP10, for the years 2028 to 2034, and discussions about it have already begun. For researchers involved in research data management (RDM), it is worth taking a closer look. This is because the changes currently being proposed could influence how data is shared, managed, and funded in the future. With a budget of around €95.5 billion, Horizon Europe is the world’s largest research budget, which further underscores the importance of the program.
Why FP10 Is Relevant For RDM
The German government has outlined its view of the program in a position paper. According to this, Horizon Europe and national funding strategies are to be more closely integrated, the transfer of research results strengthened, and FP10 also opened up to dual-use projects. In short, research should not only be excellent, but also visible, usable, and connectable.
At the same time, European universities and research institutes, including CESAER, have launched a joint initiative. The goal is to design FP10 in such a way that it optimally supports local research practice. This is not only about financial resources, but also about structures that facilitate collaboration and open science.
The Following Things Could Change For RDM
There are some exciting prospects for the RDM community:
- Data management and data sharing: Open and well-documented data should become easier to use and access. This will enable greater reuse, collaboration, and reproducibility.
- Funding structures for RDM: In the future, national and European funding could be better coordinated. This will support projects that focus on sustainable data management from the outset.
- Interdisciplinary collaboration: The social sciences and humanities will also be more closely involved. This will enable data practices to be developed across disciplines and new perspectives on research data to be gained.
FP10 could be an important driver for open science and sustainable data management. It is not just a matter of sharing data, but also of ensuring that it is available, traceable, and usable in the long term.
Looking Ahead
For researchers involved in RDM, it is worth keeping an eye on the discussions surrounding FP10. Whether it’s helping to shape guidelines, building interoperable infrastructures, or using open data practices, there are many opportunities to actively influence the process. FP10 offers the chance to take research data management in Europe to a new level.
The coming years will be exciting, and those who follow developments now will be better prepared to reap the benefits for their own research.
If you have any questions about RDM topics in general, the RDM team at RWTH Aachen University is always happy to help. We look forward to hearing from you!
Responsible for the content of this article is Hania Eid.
The following sources served as the basis for this article:
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