diff --git a/dmp-frontend/src/app/library/auto-complete/multiple/multiple-auto-complete.component.ts b/dmp-frontend/src/app/library/auto-complete/multiple/multiple-auto-complete.component.ts
index 73ff48a14..b0675ba42 100644
--- a/dmp-frontend/src/app/library/auto-complete/multiple/multiple-auto-complete.component.ts
+++ b/dmp-frontend/src/app/library/auto-complete/multiple/multiple-auto-complete.component.ts
@@ -95,7 +95,6 @@ export class MultipleAutoCompleteComponent extends _CustomComponentMixinBase imp
 
 	@Input() minLength: number = 0;
 	@Input() showNoResultsLabel: boolean = true;
-	@Input() hidePlaceholder: boolean = false;
 
 	@Input()
 	get placeholder() {
diff --git a/dmp-frontend/src/app/library/auto-complete/single/single-auto-complete.component.ts b/dmp-frontend/src/app/library/auto-complete/single/single-auto-complete.component.ts
index 97d2c11c5..9b354dd59 100644
--- a/dmp-frontend/src/app/library/auto-complete/single/single-auto-complete.component.ts
+++ b/dmp-frontend/src/app/library/auto-complete/single/single-auto-complete.component.ts
@@ -212,6 +212,14 @@ export class SingleAutoCompleteComponent extends _CustomComponentMixinBase imple
 		this.optionActionClicked.emit(item);
 	}
 
+	private clearValue(): void {
+		this._setValue(null);
+		this.stateChanges.next();
+		this.optionSelected.emit(null);
+		this.inputValue = null;
+		this._items = null;
+	}
+
 	private optionSelectedInternal(item: any) {
 		const newValue = this._valueToAssign(item);
 
@@ -229,7 +237,9 @@ export class SingleAutoCompleteComponent extends _CustomComponentMixinBase imple
 		// prevent filtering results if arrow were pressed
 		if (event.keyCode !== ENTER && (event.keyCode < 37 || event.keyCode > 40)) {
 			if (this.inputValue.length === 0 && this.value != null) {
+				this.clearValue();
 				this._onInputFocus();
+				return;
 			}
 			this._inputSubject.next(this.inputValue);
 		}
diff --git a/dmp-frontend/src/app/ui/admin/description-template/editor/components/field/description-template-editor-field.component.html b/dmp-frontend/src/app/ui/admin/description-template/editor/components/field/description-template-editor-field.component.html
index 512f46532..07af14ebc 100644
--- a/dmp-frontend/src/app/ui/admin/description-template/editor/components/field/description-template-editor-field.component.html
+++ b/dmp-frontend/src/app/ui/admin/description-template/editor/components/field/description-template-editor-field.component.html
@@ -123,7 +123,7 @@
 
 		<mat-form-field class="col-6">
 			<mat-label>{{'DESCRIPTION-TEMPLATE-EDITOR.STEPS.FORM.COMPOSITE-FIELD.FIELDS.SEMANTICS' | translate}}</mat-label>
-			<app-multiple-auto-complete placeholder="{{'DESCRIPTION-TEMPLATE-EDITOR.STEPS.FORM.COMPOSITE-FIELD.FIELDS.SEMANTICS' | translate}}" [hidePlaceholder]="true" [required]="false" [separatorKeysCodes]="separatorKeysCodes" [formControl]="this.form.get('schematics')" [configuration]="semanticsService.multipleAutocompleteConfiguration">
+			<app-multiple-auto-complete placeholder="{{'DESCRIPTION-TEMPLATE-EDITOR.STEPS.FORM.COMPOSITE-FIELD.FIELDS.SEMANTICS' | translate}}" [required]="false" [separatorKeysCodes]="separatorKeysCodes" [formControl]="this.form.get('schematics')" [configuration]="semanticsService.multipleAutocompleteConfiguration">
 			</app-multiple-auto-complete>
 			<mat-error *ngIf="form.get('schematics').hasError('backendError')">{{form.get('schematics').getError('backendError').message}}</mat-error>
 		</mat-form-field>
diff --git a/dmp-frontend/src/app/ui/admin/dmp-blueprint/editor/dmp-blueprint-editor.component.html b/dmp-frontend/src/app/ui/admin/dmp-blueprint/editor/dmp-blueprint-editor.component.html
index 54b42c9ed..cd23a0c54 100644
--- a/dmp-frontend/src/app/ui/admin/dmp-blueprint/editor/dmp-blueprint-editor.component.html
+++ b/dmp-frontend/src/app/ui/admin/dmp-blueprint/editor/dmp-blueprint-editor.component.html
@@ -173,7 +173,7 @@
 																	<div class="col-12 col-xl-4" *ngIf="field.get('category').value != null">
 																		<mat-form-field class="mt-3 w-100">
 																			<mat-label>{{'DMP-BLUEPRINT-EDITOR.FIELDS.SEMANTICS' | translate}}</mat-label>
-																			<app-multiple-auto-complete placeholder="{{'DMP-BLUEPRINT-EDITOR.FIELDS.SEMANTICS' | translate}}" [hidePlaceholder]="true" [required]="false" [separatorKeysCodes]="separatorKeysCodes" [formControl]="field.get('semantics')" [configuration]="semanticsService.multipleAutocompleteConfiguration">
+																			<app-multiple-auto-complete placeholder="{{'DMP-BLUEPRINT-EDITOR.FIELDS.SEMANTICS' | translate}}" [required]="false" [separatorKeysCodes]="separatorKeysCodes" [formControl]="field.get('semantics')" [configuration]="semanticsService.multipleAutocompleteConfiguration">
 																			</app-multiple-auto-complete>
 																			<mat-error *ngIf="field.get('semantics').hasError('backendError')">{{field.get('semantics').getError('backendError').message}}</mat-error>
 																			<mat-error *ngIf="field.get('semantics').hasError('required')">{{'GENERAL.VALIDATION.REQUIRED' | translate}}</mat-error>
@@ -257,7 +257,7 @@
 																	<div class="col-12 col-lg-6 col-xl-3">
 																		<mat-form-field class="w-100 mt-3">
 																			<mat-label>{{'DMP-BLUEPRINT-EDITOR.FIELDS.DESCRIPTION-TEMPLATE' | translate}}</mat-label>
-																			<app-single-auto-complete [formControl]="descriptionTemplate.get('descriptionTemplateGroupId')" [hidePlaceholder]="true" [configuration]="descriptionTempalteGroupSingleAutocompleteConfiguration" (optionActionClicked)="onPreviewDescriptionTemplate($event, sectionIndex, descriptionTemplateIndex)"></app-single-auto-complete>
+																			<app-single-auto-complete [formControl]="descriptionTemplate.get('descriptionTemplateGroupId')" [configuration]="descriptionTempalteGroupSingleAutocompleteConfiguration" (optionActionClicked)="onPreviewDescriptionTemplate($event, sectionIndex, descriptionTemplateIndex)"></app-single-auto-complete>
 																			<mat-error *ngIf="descriptionTemplate.get('descriptionTemplateGroupId').hasError('backendError')">{{descriptionTemplate.get('descriptionTemplateGroupId').getError('backendError').message}}</mat-error>
 																			<mat-error *ngIf="descriptionTemplate.get('descriptionTemplateGroupId').hasError('required')">{{'GENERAL.VALIDATION.REQUIRED' | translate}}</mat-error>
 																		</mat-form-field>
diff --git a/dmp-frontend/src/app/ui/admin/entity-locks/filters/lock-listing-filters.component.html b/dmp-frontend/src/app/ui/admin/entity-locks/filters/lock-listing-filters.component.html
index ae0057c6b..6edc67cd1 100644
--- a/dmp-frontend/src/app/ui/admin/entity-locks/filters/lock-listing-filters.component.html
+++ b/dmp-frontend/src/app/ui/admin/entity-locks/filters/lock-listing-filters.component.html
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@
 				<div class="col-12">
 					<mat-form-field class="w-100">
 						<mat-label>{{'LOCK-LISTING.FILTER.USERS' | translate}}</mat-label>
-						<app-multiple-auto-complete [(ngModel)]="internalFilters.userIds" [hidePlaceholder]="true" [separatorKeysCodes]="separatorKeysCodes" [configuration]="userService.multipleAutocompleteConfiguration">
+						<app-multiple-auto-complete [(ngModel)]="internalFilters.userIds" [separatorKeysCodes]="separatorKeysCodes" [configuration]="userService.multipleAutocompleteConfiguration">
 						</app-multiple-auto-complete>
 					</mat-form-field>
 				</div>
diff --git a/dmp-frontend/src/app/ui/description/editor/description-form/components/form-field/form-field.component.html b/dmp-frontend/src/app/ui/description/editor/description-form/components/form-field/form-field.component.html
index a29ae9b6b..36ab6c70f 100644
--- a/dmp-frontend/src/app/ui/description/editor/description-form/components/form-field/form-field.component.html
+++ b/dmp-frontend/src/app/ui/description/editor/description-form/components/form-field/form-field.component.html
@@ -17,10 +17,10 @@
 
 	<div *ngSwitchCase="descriptionTemplateFieldTypeEnum.REFERENCE_TYPES" class="col-12">
 		<ng-container *ngIf="field.data.multipleSelect">
-			<app-reference-field-component [form]="propertiesFormGroup?.get(field.id).get('references')" [label]="field.data.label" [placeholder]="(field.data.label | translate) + (isRequired ? ' *': '')" [referenceType]="field.data.referenceType" [multiple]="true" [required]="isRequired" hint="{{ 'TYPES.DATASET-PROFILE-COMBO-BOX-TYPE.EXTERNAL-SOURCE-HINT' | translate }}"></app-reference-field-component>
+			<app-reference-field-component [form]="propertiesFormGroup?.get(field.id).get('references')" [label]="(field.data.label | translate) + (isRequired ? ' *': '')" [placeholder]="(field.data.label | translate) + (isRequired ? ' *': '')" [referenceType]="field.data.referenceType" [multiple]="true" [required]="isRequired" hint="{{ 'TYPES.DATASET-PROFILE-COMBO-BOX-TYPE.EXTERNAL-SOURCE-HINT' | translate }}"></app-reference-field-component>
 		</ng-container>
 		<ng-container *ngIf="!(field.data.multipleSelect)">
-			<app-reference-field-component [form]="propertiesFormGroup?.get(field.id).get('reference')" [label]="field.data.label" [placeholder]="(field.data.label | translate) + (isRequired ? ' *': '')" [referenceType]="field.data.referenceType" [multiple]="false" [required]="isRequired" hint="{{ 'TYPES.DATASET-PROFILE-COMBO-BOX-TYPE.EXTERNAL-SOURCE-HINT' | translate }}"></app-reference-field-component>
+			<app-reference-field-component [form]="propertiesFormGroup?.get(field.id).get('reference')" [label]="(field.data.label | translate) + (isRequired ? ' *': '')" [placeholder]="(field.data.label | translate) + (isRequired ? ' *': '')" [referenceType]="field.data.referenceType" [multiple]="false" [required]="isRequired" hint="{{ 'TYPES.DATASET-PROFILE-COMBO-BOX-TYPE.EXTERNAL-SOURCE-HINT' | translate }}"></app-reference-field-component>
 		</ng-container>
 	</div>
 	<div *ngSwitchCase="descriptionTemplateFieldTypeEnum.SELECT" class="col-12">
diff --git a/dmp-frontend/src/app/ui/dmp/dmp-editor-blueprint/dmp-editor.component.html b/dmp-frontend/src/app/ui/dmp/dmp-editor-blueprint/dmp-editor.component.html
index a65ff6ef6..e0e4f293c 100644
--- a/dmp-frontend/src/app/ui/dmp/dmp-editor-blueprint/dmp-editor.component.html
+++ b/dmp-frontend/src/app/ui/dmp/dmp-editor-blueprint/dmp-editor.component.html
@@ -201,7 +201,7 @@
 																			<div class="col d-flex" *ngIf="contact.get('contactType').value == dmpContactTypeEnum.Internal">
 																				<mat-form-field class="w-100">
 																					<mat-label>{{'DMP-EDITOR.FIELDS.USER' | translate}}</mat-label>
-																					<app-single-auto-complete [formControl]="contact.get('userId')" [hidePlaceholder]="true" [configuration]="userService.singleAutoCompleteDmpAssociatedUserConfiguration"></app-single-auto-complete>
+																					<app-single-auto-complete [formControl]="contact.get('userId')" [configuration]="userService.singleAutoCompleteDmpAssociatedUserConfiguration"></app-single-auto-complete>
 																					<mat-error *ngIf="contact.get('userId').hasError('backendError')">{{contact.get('userId').getError('backendError').message}}</mat-error>
 																					<mat-error *ngIf="contact.get('userId').hasError('required')">{{'GENERAL.VALIDATION.REQUIRED' | translate}}</mat-error>
 																				</mat-form-field>
@@ -319,7 +319,7 @@
 												<div class="heading">{{'DMP-EDITOR.FIELDS.DESCRIPTION-TEMPLATES' | translate}}</div>
 												<mat-form-field class="w-100">
 													<mat-label>{{'DMP-EDITOR.FIELDS.DESCRIPTION-TEMPLATES-HINT' | translate}}</mat-label>
-													<app-multiple-auto-complete placeholder="{{'DMP-EDITOR.FIELDS.DESCRIPTION-TEMPLATES-HINT' | translate}}" [hidePlaceholder]="true" required='true' [formControl]="formGroup.get('descriptionTemplates').get(section.id)" [configuration]="getDescriptionTemplateMultipleAutoCompleteConfiguration(section.id)" (optionActionClicked)="onPreviewDescriptionTemplate($event, section.id)" (optionRemoved)="onRemoveDescriptionTemplate($event, section.id)">
+													<app-multiple-auto-complete placeholder="{{'DMP-EDITOR.FIELDS.DESCRIPTION-TEMPLATES-HINT' | translate}}" required='true' [formControl]="formGroup.get('descriptionTemplates').get(section.id)" [configuration]="getDescriptionTemplateMultipleAutoCompleteConfiguration(section.id)" (optionActionClicked)="onPreviewDescriptionTemplate($event, section.id)" (optionRemoved)="onRemoveDescriptionTemplate($event, section.id)">
 													</app-multiple-auto-complete>
 													<mat-error *ngIf="formGroup.get('descriptionTemplates').get(section.id).hasError('backendError')">{{formGroup.get('descriptionTemplates').get(section.id).getError('backendError').message}}</mat-error>
 													<mat-error *ngIf="formGroup.get('descriptionTemplates').get(section.id).hasError('required')">{{'GENERAL.VALIDATION.REQUIRED' | translate}}</mat-error>
diff --git a/dmp-frontend/src/app/ui/dmp/dmp-user-field/dmp-user-field.component.html b/dmp-frontend/src/app/ui/dmp/dmp-user-field/dmp-user-field.component.html
index bf1a4bd5e..f54b95d61 100644
--- a/dmp-frontend/src/app/ui/dmp/dmp-user-field/dmp-user-field.component.html
+++ b/dmp-frontend/src/app/ui/dmp/dmp-user-field/dmp-user-field.component.html
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@
 	<div class="col-12 col-xl mt-3" *ngIf="user.get('userType').value == dmpUserTypeEnum.Internal">
 		<mat-form-field class="w-100">
 			<mat-label>{{'DMP-EDITOR.FIELDS.USER' | translate}}</mat-label>
-			<app-single-auto-complete [formControl]="user.get('user')" [hidePlaceholder]="true" [configuration]="userService.singleAutoCompleteDmpAssociatedUserConfiguration"></app-single-auto-complete>
+			<app-single-auto-complete [formControl]="user.get('user')" [configuration]="userService.singleAutoCompleteDmpAssociatedUserConfiguration"></app-single-auto-complete>
 			<mat-error *ngIf="user.get('user').hasError('backendError')">{{user.get('user').getError('backendError').message}}</mat-error>
 			<mat-error *ngIf="user.get('user').hasError('required')">{{'GENERAL.VALIDATION.REQUIRED' | translate}}</mat-error>
 		</mat-form-field>
diff --git a/dmp-frontend/src/app/ui/dmp/editor/dataset-info/dataset-info.component.html b/dmp-frontend/src/app/ui/dmp/editor/dataset-info/dataset-info.component.html
index 9b7c83681..3228e5b6a 100644
--- a/dmp-frontend/src/app/ui/dmp/editor/dataset-info/dataset-info.component.html
+++ b/dmp-frontend/src/app/ui/dmp/editor/dataset-info/dataset-info.component.html
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@
 				<div class="profile-form">
 					<mat-form-field>
 						<mat-label>{{'DMP-EDITOR.FIELDS.SELECT-TEMPLATE' | translate}}</mat-label>
-						<app-multiple-auto-complete placeholder="{{'DMP-EDITOR.FIELDS.SELECT-TEMPLATE' | translate}}" [hidePlaceholder]="true" required='true' [formControl]="formGroup.get('profiles')" [configuration]="profilesAutoCompleteConfiguration" (optionRemoved)="onRemoveTemplate($event)" (optionActionClicked)="onPreviewTemplate($event)" (optionSelected)="onOptionSelected()">
+						<app-multiple-auto-complete placeholder="{{'DMP-EDITOR.FIELDS.SELECT-TEMPLATE' | translate}}" required='true' [formControl]="formGroup.get('profiles')" [configuration]="profilesAutoCompleteConfiguration" (optionRemoved)="onRemoveTemplate($event)" (optionActionClicked)="onPreviewTemplate($event)" (optionSelected)="onOptionSelected()">
 						</app-multiple-auto-complete>
 						<mat-error *ngIf="formGroup.get('profiles').hasError('backendError')">
 							{{formGroup.get('profiles').getError('backendError').message}}</mat-error>
diff --git a/dmp-frontend/src/app/ui/reference/reference-field/reference-field.component.html b/dmp-frontend/src/app/ui/reference/reference-field/reference-field.component.html
index 0e7f05cdd..7c0dbdb46 100644
--- a/dmp-frontend/src/app/ui/reference/reference-field/reference-field.component.html
+++ b/dmp-frontend/src/app/ui/reference/reference-field/reference-field.component.html
@@ -1,14 +1,14 @@
 <mat-form-field class="w-100" *ngIf="multipleAutoCompleteSearchConfiguration">
-	<mat-label>{{label ?? referenceType?.name}}</mat-label>
-	<app-multiple-auto-complete placeholder="{{ placeholder ?? referenceType?.name}}" [formControl]="form" [configuration]="multipleAutoCompleteSearchConfiguration" [required]="required">
+	<mat-label>{{label?.length > 0 ? label : referenceType?.name}}</mat-label>
+	<app-multiple-auto-complete placeholder="{{ placeholder?.length > 0 ? placeholder : referenceType?.name}}" [formControl]="form" [configuration]="multipleAutoCompleteSearchConfiguration" [required]="required">
 	</app-multiple-auto-complete>
 	<mat-error *ngIf="form.hasError('backendError')">{{form.getError('backendError').message}}</mat-error>
 	<mat-error *ngIf="form.hasError('required')">{{'GENERAL.VALIDATION.REQUIRED' | translate}}</mat-error>
 	<mat-hint *ngIf="hint">{{hint}}</mat-hint>
 </mat-form-field>
 <mat-form-field class="w-100" *ngIf="singleAutoCompleteSearchConfiguration">
-	<mat-label>{{label ?? referenceType?.name}}</mat-label>
-	<app-single-auto-complete placeholder="{{ placeholder ?? referenceType?.name}}" [formControl]="form" [configuration]="singleAutoCompleteSearchConfiguration" [required]="required">
+	<mat-label>{{label?.length > 0 ? label : referenceType?.name}}</mat-label>
+	<app-single-auto-complete placeholder="{{ placeholder?.length > 0 ? placeholder : referenceType?.name}}" [formControl]="form" [configuration]="singleAutoCompleteSearchConfiguration" [required]="required">
 	</app-single-auto-complete>
 	<mat-error *ngIf="form.hasError('backendError')">{{form.getError('backendError').message}}</mat-error>
 	<mat-error *ngIf="form.hasError('required')">{{'GENERAL.VALIDATION.REQUIRED' | translate}}</mat-error>
diff --git a/dmp-frontend/src/notification-service/ui/admin/notification/filters/notification-listing-filters.component.html b/dmp-frontend/src/notification-service/ui/admin/notification/filters/notification-listing-filters.component.html
index 6adc22cd1..4dd876f75 100644
--- a/dmp-frontend/src/notification-service/ui/admin/notification/filters/notification-listing-filters.component.html
+++ b/dmp-frontend/src/notification-service/ui/admin/notification/filters/notification-listing-filters.component.html
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@
 				<div class="col-12">
 					<mat-form-field class="w-100">
 						<mat-label>{{'NOTIFICATION-SERVICE.NOTIFICATION-LISTING.FILTER.USERS' | translate}}</mat-label>
-						<app-multiple-auto-complete [(ngModel)]="internalFilters.userIds" [hidePlaceholder]="true" [separatorKeysCodes]="separatorKeysCodes" [configuration]="userAutoCompleteConfiguration">
+						<app-multiple-auto-complete [(ngModel)]="internalFilters.userIds" [separatorKeysCodes]="separatorKeysCodes" [configuration]="userAutoCompleteConfiguration">
 						</app-multiple-auto-complete>
 					</mat-form-field>
 				</div>