diff --git a/dmp-backend/web/src/main/java/eu/eudat/logic/managers/DataManagementPlanManager.java b/dmp-backend/web/src/main/java/eu/eudat/logic/managers/DataManagementPlanManager.java
index d244ee0a3..b9dcd6d62 100644
--- a/dmp-backend/web/src/main/java/eu/eudat/logic/managers/DataManagementPlanManager.java
+++ b/dmp-backend/web/src/main/java/eu/eudat/logic/managers/DataManagementPlanManager.java
@@ -859,21 +859,24 @@ public class DataManagementPlanManager {
                 eu.eudat.data.entities.Project projectEntity = projectDao.getWithCritetia(criteria).toList().stream().max(Comparator.comparing(project1 -> project1.getModified().getTime())).orElse(null);
                 if (projectEntity != null) project.setId(projectEntity.getId());
                 else {
-                    project.setType(Project.ProjectType.EXTERNAL.getValue());
-                    if (project.getId() == null) project.setId(UUID.randomUUID());
-                    projectDao.createOrUpdate(project);
-                    metricsManager.increaseValue(MetricNames.PROJECT, 1, null);
+                    createExternalProject(project, projectDao);
                 }
             }
             else {
-                project.setType(Project.ProjectType.EXTERNAL.getValue());
-                if (project.getId() == null) project.setId(UUID.randomUUID());
-                projectDao.createOrUpdate(project);
-                metricsManager.increaseValue(MetricNames.PROJECT, 1, null);
+                createExternalProject(project, projectDao);
             }
         }
     }
 
+    private void createExternalProject(Project project, ProjectDao projectDao) {
+        if (project.getStartdate() == null) project.setStartdate(new Date());
+        if (project.getEnddate() == null) project.setEnddate(new Date());
+        project.setType(Project.ProjectType.EXTERNAL.getValue());
+        if (project.getId() == null) project.setId(UUID.randomUUID());
+        projectDao.createOrUpdate(project);
+        metricsManager.increaseValue(MetricNames.PROJECT, 1, null);
+    }
+
     private void copyDatasets(DMP newDmp, DatasetDao datasetDao) {
         List<CompletableFuture<Dataset>> futures = new LinkedList<>();
         for (Dataset dataset : newDmp.getDataset()) {