Reflections from the OSTrails Hackathon: Building the Future of Machine-Actionable DMPs

On 27th May, I had the privilege of representing DMPonline at the OSTrails hackathon in Vienna. It was an intense and inspiring event focused on shaping the Common API for machine-actionable Data Management Plans (maDMPs). 

The hackathon, hosted at Technische Universität Wien and aligned with the  RDA Working Group on a Common API for maDMPs,  which I co-chair, brought together international DMP platform experts from both sides of the Atlantic.  

OSTrails hackathon participants in Vienna, 27 May 2025. Andrea Davanzo, DMPonline Service Manager, second from left.

It was a powerful reminder of how open collaboration and shared purpose can drive meaningful technical progress. Throughout the day, we focused on defining the initial API structure, mapping out core operations like Create, Update, Delete, and Search for DMP components such as Plan, Datasets, Costs, Repositories, etc.  

As Service Manager for DMPonline, I see every day how vital interoperability is to advancing research support. A common API between DMP platforms marks a major step forward in the shift from viewing Data Management Plans as static documents to embracing them as “living documents”: dynamic, evolving, and integrated across the research lifecycle. This vision is central to the work we are doing at DMPonline and the Digital Curation Centre, where we’re committed to enabling more responsive, connected, and researcher-friendly data management practices. 

OSTrails hackathon in Vienna, 27 May 2025. Andrea Davanzo, DMPonline Service Manager, third from right.

The journey to a Common API is just beginning, but this hackathon proved that we are heading in the right direction. Collective effort truly drives innovation! 

Interested in joining the RDA Working group? More information and details about the group can be found on the RDA website. 

Common Application Programming Interface (API) for machine-actionable Data Management Plans (maDMPs)