April 21, 2025

The Institute of Developing Economies, Japan External Trade Organization (hereinafter referred to as "the Institute") aims to make an intellectual contribution to the world as a center for developing country studies in Japan. To this end, the Institute collects and accumulates knowledge closely related to each region, clarifies the realities and challenges of developing countries, and provides a deep understanding of developing countries to a wide range of people in Japan and abroad. These activities of the Institute provide the intellectual foundation for deepening Japan's international understanding and, by extension, for promoting desirable partnerships between Japan and the international community.

Recognizing that research data generated through its survey and research activities is also an important component of the intellectual infrastructure of research on developing countries, the Institute hereby establishes this policy to promote the utilization and appropriate management of such data.

The purpose of this policy is to set forth the basic approach to the management and utilization of research data at the Institute, and thereby contribute to the realization of the Institute's philosophy as set forth in the preamble.

In this policy, the following terms shall be used as defined below.

１ Research data
All data, whether digital or non-digital, produced in the course of research and survey activities in which the Institute is involved. This includes research notes and memos, data obtained directly from experiments, observations, simulations, etc., and data processed from such data, as well as data used as evidence for papers.

２ Researchers
Refers to those who conduct research activities at the Institute or are involved in such activities, regardless of whether or not they are employed by the Institute.

This policy applies to research data. However, if there is a contract between a research funding agency or other third party and the Institute or the researchers, such contract shall take precedence.

１ Researchers are responsible for the appropriate management of research data collected and generated in the course of their research activities in accordance with relevant laws, regulations, and ethical codes, and have the right to make decisions regarding the management and utilization of such data.

２ Researchers shall manage research data in accordance with laws, regulations, and codes of ethics, taking into account the specifics of their respective research fields. The role of researchers is as follows:

1. ① Determining data to be managed
2. ② Assigning metadata
3. ③ Creating a Data Management Plan (DMP)
4. ④ Storing research data
5. ⑤ Determining research data to be made publicly available

３ The Institute will provide the necessary environment to support the appropriate management of research data by researchers. The Institute will play the following roles:

1. ① Presenting basic policies for determining data to be managed
2. ② Developing a registration environment to make the metadata researchers have added to the research data infrastructure system searchable.
3. ③ Providing a storage environment for research data during and after research
4. ④ Providing an environment for publishing research data

４ Researchers and the Institute shall work together to ensure that the research data they publish is made available to the public as permanently as possible. Other controlled data shall be stored and managed in an appropriate condition for at least 10 years to ensure the means to prove the legitimacy of research activities and to guarantee the possibility of verification by a third party.

１ Based on the recognition that research data is an important part of the intellectual infrastructure that contributes to the continuity of science, the creation of new research, and the development of society, researchers shall strive to promote the active utilization of such data.

２ Researchers shall make research data publicly available to the extent possible, taking into account legal, ethical, and strategic conditions, in order to facilitate the use of research data.

３ The Institute will support researchers in making appropriate decisions about whether and how to release their research data, and will also provide basic information about release licenses, metadata assignment, release locations, etc., based on the FAIR principles (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable).

４ In the environment for publishing research data provided by the Institute, efforts will be made to ensure that the use of such research data is appropriate, for example, by clearly indicating the rules for the publication license and the description of citation information when a third party uses the research data.

１ When a researcher transfers or leaves the Institute, the researcher and the Institute shall consult with each other to determine how to handle the research data stored and managed by the researcher, and the decision shall be appropriately reflected in the DMP.

２ Research data entrusted to the Institute for management shall be stored and managed responsibly by the Institute in accordance with the DMP for such research data.

３ When the Institute hires or accepts a new researcher, the researcher and the Institute shall consult with each other to determine how the data collected and generated through research activities, etc. prior to hiring, will be handled.

This policy shall be reviewed periodically in accordance with the progress of the Institute's efforts toward a research data policy and changes in the environment surrounding research data.

End