Current best practice for research data management policies: a memo for the Danish e-Infrastructure Cooperation and the Danish Digital Library

The memo that follows responds to the request by the Danish e-Infrastructure Cooperation (DeIC), in partnership with Denmark's Electronic Research Library (DEFF), for a document 'to provide an overview of current best practices for research data management (RDM) policies within a number of subject areas, and as such inspire the development of a Danish national strategy on the area of RDM policies.' In accordance with the instruction, this memo considers current best practices in an international context, highlights what are considered the 'pivotal points' or key elements of the policies mentioned and explores particular variations and distinctive features of those policies relating to particular subject areas (specifically: humanities, social sciences, health sciences, natural sciences and technical sciences). Accordingly, this memo comprises sections addressing the following issues: RDM policy drivers and general principles featuring in research data policies; Key elements of research data policies; Particular variations and distinctive features of those policies relating to particular subject areas. In order to provide supporting material, the memo comes with a number of Appendices that we hope will be useful to Danish stakeholders' discussions around research data policies. In order to provide a framework that may be useful for developing research data policies, this memo primarily summarises research funder data policies. Funder policies are considerably more detailed and further developed than those produced so far by institutions. And arguably, the primary purpose of data policies for research performing institutions so far is to demonstrate compliance with funder policy. Where journal editorial boards have released data policies, these generally amount to a requirement to state how the data may be accessed. Research funder policies cover the major general considerations which can form a framework for the development of research data policies, as presented below.