How to complete an outputs management plan

When applying for Wellcome funding you will need to provide a data sharing plan, or justify why a plan is not required. This page outlines some of the things you should consider as you complete your plan and implement your plan during your research.

This guidance should be read alongside our policy on data sharing and our policy on intellectual property.  

In this guidance, data means quantitative or qualitative information generated over the course of research. This can take the form of datasets, code and software, images or data generated through analysis of samples or biological materials as well as intellectual property (IP) for example patents. 

How we use your outputs management plan

When considering your application, we, the advisory committees and/or peer reviewers will assess your outputs management plan.

As part of the end-of-grant reporting process, we will consider the extent to which outputs have been managed and shared in line with our expectations – taking into account your outputs management plan and recognising that this may have been revised as your research progressed.

Choosing the right route: output sharing or IP and commercialisation 

Outputs may be shared with end-users (openly or otherwise) or be made available commercially by licensing for a fee.  

Your outputs management plan must set out which approach is most likely to maximise the adoption and use of the output by the wider research community and the resulting health benefit. 

For example, if creating a new software tool, an open approach might be appropriate if others could make immediate and sustained use of it, (for example under a GNU General Public Licence or other licence approved by the Open Source Initiative).  

However, a commercial approach might be better if you need further funding or a commercial partner to develop, market, distribute or support the ongoing use of the software. 

You should also consider whether the output would have greater value to the research community if it was incorporated into an existing commercial product or an existing open resource, rather than making it available as a standalone product. 

What to include in your plan 

3. Resources and costs required

You should consider what resources you may need to deliver your plan and outline where dedicated resources are required. This includes people needed for the research as well as associated costs of the research.

Examples of resources you can ask for include:

Additional resources and examples 

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