The following recap was sent to Data Nudge subscribers September 29, 2026. The Research Data Service occasionally sends messages summarizing key updates to funders’ data policies. These messages do not cover all updates.
Several federal funders have updated their data policies this past year. Here’s a handy recap of the big changes so you’re not caught off guard next time you apply for research funding.
Department of Energy (DOE)
- Published datasets from DOE supported projects must be reported to the Office of Science and Technology Information (OSTI).
- If you publish your data in the Illinois Data Bank, our Research Data Service will report to OSTI for you.
National Institutes of Health (NIH)
- Data Management and Sharing Plans must now follow a shorter format that includes Yes/No questions, brief explanations, and a table of the types of data you expect to produce and the repositories where you’ll share that data.
National Science Foundation (NSF)
- Data Management and Sharing Plans must now be submitted via a Research.gov form instead of as a narrative document. Form content varies by directorate.
- Data that supports a publication should be made public by the time the publication is released.
- PIs must now report published datasets in NSF’s Public Access Repository (PAR) with a persistent identifier (such as a DOI).
- In addition to sharing data, samples, and physical collections, you should also share software, inventions, and curriculum materials when possible.
US Department of Agriculture (USDA)
- Data that supports a publication should be made public (and reported in AgData Commons) by the time the publication is released.
- If you publish your data in the Illinois Data Bank, our Research Data Service will report to AgData Commons for you.
Help Meeting Funder Requirements
The Research Data Service can help you understand and meet funder requirements for managing and sharing research data. Our services include:
- Policy expertise
- Customized data management planning workshops
- Data Management and Sharing Plan reviews
- Individual consultations
- The Illinois Data Bank repository, which meets federal funders’ data sharing requirements
Contact the Research Data Service. We’re here to help.