Before generating data, establish the foundation for how it will be governed.

• Draft a DMP: Outline hardware and software selection, data organization, storage methods, and data-sharing mechanisms. A DMP reduces management costs and ensures legal compliance.

• Ethics & Consent: Obtain ethical approvals and draft informed consent forms explaining to participants how their data will be used, stored, and anonymized. Maintain the validity of consent throughout the project.

• Budgeting: Allocate funds for data curation staff, secure storage, legal support, and potential data purchases.