Through the Horizon 2020 programme (2014-2020) the European Commission initiated a pilot project on research data called the ORD Pilot, which was then extended to all projects in 2017.

In light of this, and in preparation for the new Horizon Europe framework programme, since 2018 the CERCA system has had an Open Data action plan in place. The aim of the plan is to facilitate and rationalise data infrastructures, work with the European FAIR criteria and have a data management plan suitable for each institution and project.