This poster presents an overview of how the Croatian research community has responded to the Croatian Science Foundation’s (HRZZ) 2022 mandate requiring Data Management Plans (DMPs). Using data from the national repository infrastructure – DABAR between 2020 and 2024, we examine trends in the creation and deposition of DMPs to institutional repositories.

The analysis shows an increase in DMP deposits, growing from just 12 in 2020 to 549 by early 2024. The largest jump occurred in 2023, with submissions rising from 95 in 2022 to 214. This reflects the growing influence of HRZZ’s policy, as all but one DMP were related to HRZZfunded projects. Approximately 50% of submitted DMPs are openly accessible, though levels of openness vary.

These findings highlight the role of funder mandates and national infrastructure in promoting research data management practices. While the increase in DMP submissions is encouraging, a broader cultural shift toward comprehensive research data management and FAIR data principles is still developing. A national RDM strategy and integration of data management into research evaluation could further support these efforts.