diff --git a/dmp-backend/web/src/main/java/eu/eudat/controllers/Projects.java b/dmp-backend/web/src/main/java/eu/eudat/controllers/Projects.java
index a1bd460a9..2e603fa1c 100644
--- a/dmp-backend/web/src/main/java/eu/eudat/controllers/Projects.java
+++ b/dmp-backend/web/src/main/java/eu/eudat/controllers/Projects.java
@@ -46,11 +46,17 @@ public class Projects extends BaseController {
     @RequestMapping(method = RequestMethod.POST, value = {"/paged"}, consumes = "application/json", produces = "application/json")
     public @ResponseBody
     ResponseEntity<ResponseItem<DataTableData<ProjectListingModel>>> getPaged(@Valid @RequestBody ProjectTableRequest projectTableRequest, @RequestParam String fieldsGroup, Principal principal) throws Exception {
-        System.out.println(fieldsGroup);
         DataTableData<eu.eudat.models.data.project.ProjectListingModel> dataTable = this.projectManager.getPaged(projectTableRequest, principal, fieldsGroup);
         return ResponseEntity.status(HttpStatus.OK).body(new ResponseItem<DataTableData<eu.eudat.models.data.project.ProjectListingModel>>().payload(dataTable).status(ApiMessageCode.NO_MESSAGE));
     }
 
+    @RequestMapping(method = RequestMethod.POST, value = {"public/paged"}, consumes = "application/json", produces = "application/json")
+    public @ResponseBody
+    ResponseEntity<ResponseItem<DataTableData<ProjectListingModel>>> getPaged(@Valid @RequestBody ProjectTableRequest projectTableRequest) throws Exception {
+        DataTableData<eu.eudat.models.data.project.ProjectListingModel> dataTable = this.projectManager.getPublicPaged(projectTableRequest);
+        return ResponseEntity.status(HttpStatus.OK).body(new ResponseItem<DataTableData<eu.eudat.models.data.project.ProjectListingModel>>().payload(dataTable).status(ApiMessageCode.NO_MESSAGE));
+    }
+
     @RequestMapping(method = RequestMethod.GET, value = {"{id}"}, produces = "application/json")
     public @ResponseBody
     ResponseEntity<ResponseItem<eu.eudat.models.data.project.Project>> getSingle(@PathVariable String id, Principal principal) throws IllegalAccessException, InstantiationException {
diff --git a/dmp-backend/web/src/main/java/eu/eudat/logic/managers/ProjectManager.java b/dmp-backend/web/src/main/java/eu/eudat/logic/managers/ProjectManager.java
index 29aaa494d..5db1b6c6c 100644
--- a/dmp-backend/web/src/main/java/eu/eudat/logic/managers/ProjectManager.java
+++ b/dmp-backend/web/src/main/java/eu/eudat/logic/managers/ProjectManager.java
@@ -88,6 +88,22 @@ public class ProjectManager {
         return dataTable;
     }
 
+    public DataTableData<eu.eudat.models.data.project.ProjectListingModel> getPublicPaged(ProjectTableRequest projectTableRequest) throws Exception {
+        ProjectDao projectRepository = databaseRepository.getProjectDao();
+        QueryableList<eu.eudat.data.entities.Project> items = projectRepository.getWithCriteria(projectTableRequest.getCriteria());
+        QueryableList<eu.eudat.data.entities.Project> pagedItems = PaginationManager.applyPaging(items, projectTableRequest);
+        DataTableData<eu.eudat.models.data.project.ProjectListingModel> dataTable = new DataTableData<>();
+        CompletableFuture projectsFuture;
+        projectsFuture = pagedItems.selectAsync(item -> new ProjectListingModel().fromDataModel(item))
+                .whenComplete((results, throwable) -> {
+                    dataTable.setData(results);
+                });
+        CompletableFuture countFuture = pagedItems.countAsync().whenComplete((count, throwable) -> dataTable.setTotalCount(count));
+
+        CompletableFuture.allOf(projectsFuture, countFuture).join();
+        return dataTable;
+    }
+
     public eu.eudat.models.data.project.Project getSingle(String id) throws InstantiationException, IllegalAccessException {
         eu.eudat.models.data.project.Project project = new eu.eudat.models.data.project.Project();
         project.fromDataModel(databaseRepository.getProjectDao().find(UUID.fromString(id)));
diff --git a/dmp-frontend/src/app/core/services/project/project.service.ts b/dmp-frontend/src/app/core/services/project/project.service.ts
index 6abe04a98..d7af200d7 100644
--- a/dmp-frontend/src/app/core/services/project/project.service.ts
+++ b/dmp-frontend/src/app/core/services/project/project.service.ts
@@ -29,6 +29,10 @@ export class ProjectService {
 		}
 	}
 
+	getPublicPaged(dataTableRequest: DataTableRequest<ProjectCriteria>): Observable<DataTableData<ProjectListingModel>> {
+		return this.http.post<DataTableData<ProjectListingModel>>(this.actionUrl + 'public/paged', dataTableRequest, { headers: this.headers });
+	}
+
 	getWithExternal(requestItem: RequestItem<ProjectCriteria>): Observable<ProjectListingModel[]> {
 		return this.http.post<ProjectListingModel[]>(this.actionUrl + 'external', requestItem, { headers: this.headers });
 	}
@@ -45,5 +49,4 @@ export class ProjectService {
 	delete(id: String): Observable<ProjectListingModel> {
 		return this.http.delete<ProjectListingModel>(this.actionUrl + id, { headers: this.headers });
 	}
-
 }
diff --git a/dmp-frontend/src/app/ui/dataset-create-wizard/dmp-selector/dataset-dmp-selector.component.html b/dmp-frontend/src/app/ui/dataset-create-wizard/dmp-selector/dataset-dmp-selector.component.html
index ea786844c..70f480dda 100644
--- a/dmp-frontend/src/app/ui/dataset-create-wizard/dmp-selector/dataset-dmp-selector.component.html
+++ b/dmp-frontend/src/app/ui/dataset-create-wizard/dmp-selector/dataset-dmp-selector.component.html
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 	<mat-card>
 		<div>
 			<mat-form-field class="col-md-12">
-				<app-single-auto-complete [required]="true" [formControl]="formGroup.get('dmp')" placeholder="{{'DATASET-EDITOR.FIELDS.DMP' | translate}}"
+				<app-single-auto-complete [required]="true" [formControl]="formGroup.get('dmp')" placeholder="{{'DATASET-CREATE-WIZARD.FIRST-STEP.PLACEHOLDER' | translate}}"
 				 [configuration]="dmpAutoCompleteConfiguration">
 				</app-single-auto-complete>
 			</mat-form-field>
diff --git a/dmp-frontend/src/app/ui/dmp/editor/dmp-editor.component.html b/dmp-frontend/src/app/ui/dmp/editor/dmp-editor.component.html
index 283c7e03b..2c0c41de9 100644
--- a/dmp-frontend/src/app/ui/dmp/editor/dmp-editor.component.html
+++ b/dmp-frontend/src/app/ui/dmp/editor/dmp-editor.component.html
@@ -67,12 +67,12 @@
 					</mat-form-field>
 					<mat-form-field class="col-md-12">
 						<textarea matInput class="description-area"
-							placeholder="{{'DMP-EDITOR.FIELDS.DESCRIPTION' | translate}}" formControlName="description"
-							required></textarea>
-						<mat-error *ngIf="formGroup.get('description').hasError('backendError')">
+							placeholder="{{'DMP-EDITOR.FIELDS.DESCRIPTION' | translate}}" formControlName="description">
+						</textarea>
+						<!-- <mat-error *ngIf="formGroup.get('description').hasError('backendError')">
 							{{formGroup.get('description').getError('backendError').message}}</mat-error>
 						<mat-error *ngIf="formGroup.get('description').hasError('required')">{{'GENERAL.VALIDATION.REQUIRED' |
-							translate}}</mat-error>
+							translate}}</mat-error> -->
 					</mat-form-field>
 					<mat-form-field class="col-md-6">
 						<app-single-auto-complete required='true' [formControl]="formGroup.get('project')"
@@ -134,7 +134,7 @@
 							[configuration]="dmpProfileAutoCompleteConfiguration">
 						</app-single-auto-complete>
 					</mat-form-field>
-					
+
 					<mat-form-field class="col-md-6">
 						<input matInput placeholder="Version" disabled
 							[value]="formGroup.get('version').value== undefined ?0 :formGroup.get('version').value">
@@ -180,4 +180,4 @@
 		</mat-card>
 	</form>
 	<!-- <div *ngIf="formGroup"> {{ formGroup.value | json }}</div> -->
-</div>
\ No newline at end of file
+</div>
diff --git a/dmp-frontend/src/app/ui/dmp/editor/dmp-editor.model.ts b/dmp-frontend/src/app/ui/dmp/editor/dmp-editor.model.ts
index 8ddd60265..c366d5b17 100644
--- a/dmp-frontend/src/app/ui/dmp/editor/dmp-editor.model.ts
+++ b/dmp-frontend/src/app/ui/dmp/editor/dmp-editor.model.ts
@@ -62,7 +62,7 @@ export class DmpEditorModel {
 			groupId: [{ value: this.groupId, disabled: disabled }, context.getValidation('groupId').validators],
 			version: [{ value: this.version, disabled: disabled }, context.getValidation('version').validators],
 			status: [{ value: this.status, disabled: disabled }, context.getValidation('status').validators],
-			description: [{ value: this.description, disabled: disabled }, context.getValidation('description').validators],
+			description: [{ value: this.description, disabled: disabled }],
 			project: [{ value: this.project, disabled: disabled }, context.getValidation('project').validators],
 			organisations: [{ value: this.organisations, disabled: disabled }, context.getValidation('organisations').validators],
 			researchers: [{ value: this.researchers, disabled: disabled }, context.getValidation('researchers').validators],
diff --git a/dmp-frontend/src/app/ui/dmp/wizard/dmp-wizard-editor.model.ts b/dmp-frontend/src/app/ui/dmp/wizard/dmp-wizard-editor.model.ts
index dcaa915c9..91c1b7d90 100644
--- a/dmp-frontend/src/app/ui/dmp/wizard/dmp-wizard-editor.model.ts
+++ b/dmp-frontend/src/app/ui/dmp/wizard/dmp-wizard-editor.model.ts
@@ -62,7 +62,7 @@ export class DmpWizardEditorModel {
 			groupId: [{ value: this.groupId, disabled: disabled }, context.getValidation('groupId').validators],
 			version: [{ value: this.version, disabled: disabled }, context.getValidation('version').validators],
 			status: [{ value: this.status, disabled: disabled }, context.getValidation('status').validators],
-			description: [{ value: this.description, disabled: disabled }, context.getValidation('description').validators],
+			description: [{ value: this.description, disabled: disabled }],
 			project: [{ value: this.project, disabled: disabled }, context.getValidation('project').validators],
 			organisations: [{ value: this.organisations, disabled: disabled }, context.getValidation('organisations').validators],
 			researchers: [{ value: this.researchers, disabled: disabled }, context.getValidation('researchers').validators],
diff --git a/dmp-frontend/src/app/ui/dmp/wizard/editor/dmp-wizard-editor.component.html b/dmp-frontend/src/app/ui/dmp/wizard/editor/dmp-wizard-editor.component.html
index 768d1df14..bc2f4e72b 100644
--- a/dmp-frontend/src/app/ui/dmp/wizard/editor/dmp-wizard-editor.component.html
+++ b/dmp-frontend/src/app/ui/dmp/wizard/editor/dmp-wizard-editor.component.html
@@ -24,8 +24,8 @@
 
 					<mat-form-field class="col-md-12">
 						<textarea matInput class="description-area"
-							placeholder="{{'DMP-EDITOR.FIELDS.DESCRIPTION' | translate}}" formControlName="description"
-							required></textarea>
+							placeholder="{{'DMP-EDITOR.FIELDS.DESCRIPTION' | translate}}" formControlName="description">
+						</textarea>
 						<mat-error *ngIf="formGroup.get('description').hasError('backendError')">
 							{{formGroup.get('description').getError('backendError').message}}</mat-error>
 						<mat-error *ngIf="formGroup.get('description').hasError('required')">
@@ -83,4 +83,4 @@
 			</mat-card-content>
 		</mat-card>
 	</form>
-</div>
\ No newline at end of file
+</div>
diff --git a/dmp-frontend/src/app/ui/explore-dataset/filters/explore-dataset-filters.component.ts b/dmp-frontend/src/app/ui/explore-dataset/filters/explore-dataset-filters.component.ts
index def4be3a3..38529b52a 100644
--- a/dmp-frontend/src/app/ui/explore-dataset/filters/explore-dataset-filters.component.ts
+++ b/dmp-frontend/src/app/ui/explore-dataset/filters/explore-dataset-filters.component.ts
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ import { ExternalSourcesService } from '../../../core/services/external-sources/
 import { ProjectService } from '../../../core/services/project/project.service';
 import { RequestItem } from '../../../core/query/request-item';
 import { DataTableRequest } from '../../../core/model/data-table/data-table-request';
+import { AuthService } from '../../../core/services/auth/auth.service';
 
 @Component({
 	selector: 'app-explore-dataset-filters-component',
@@ -60,7 +61,8 @@ export class ExploreDatasetFiltersComponent extends BaseComponent implements OnI
 		public projectService: ProjectService,
 		public languageService: TranslateService,
 		public datasetProfileService: DatasetService,
-		public externalSourcesService: ExternalSourcesService
+		public externalSourcesService: ExternalSourcesService,
+		private authentication: AuthService,
 	) { super(); }
 
 	ngOnInit() {
@@ -96,7 +98,8 @@ export class ExploreDatasetFiltersComponent extends BaseComponent implements OnI
 			dataTableRequest.criteria = new ProjectCriteria();
 			dataTableRequest.criteria.projectStateType = this.facetCriteria.projectStatus;
 			dataTableRequest.criteria['length'] = 10;
-			this.projects = this.projectService.getPaged(dataTableRequest, "autocomplete").map(x => x.data);
+
+			this.projects = this.projectService.getPublicPaged(dataTableRequest).map(x => x.data);
 			this.facetCriteria.projects = [];
 		}
 		this.facetCriteriaChange.emit(this.facetCriteria);
@@ -157,7 +160,8 @@ export class ExploreDatasetFiltersComponent extends BaseComponent implements OnI
 		const dataTableRequest: DataTableRequest<ProjectCriteria> = new DataTableRequest(0, null, { fields: fields });
 		dataTableRequest.criteria = projectCriteria;
 		//const dataTableRequest: RequestItem<ProjectCriteria> = { criteria: projectCriteria };
-		return this.projectService.getPaged(dataTableRequest, "autocomplete").map(x => x.data);
+		//return this.projectService.getPaged(dataTableRequest, "autocomplete").map(x => x.data);
+		return this.projectService.getPublicPaged(dataTableRequest).map(x => x.data);
 	}
 
 	public dmpOrganisationSearch(value: string): Observable<ExternalSourceItemModel[]> {
diff --git a/dmp-frontend/src/assets/i18n/en.json b/dmp-frontend/src/assets/i18n/en.json
index 0feb06388..bc1383403 100644
--- a/dmp-frontend/src/assets/i18n/en.json
+++ b/dmp-frontend/src/assets/i18n/en.json
@@ -482,7 +482,8 @@
 			"SAVE": "Save"
 		},
 		"FIRST-STEP": {
-			"TITLE": "DMP"
+			"TITLE": "DMP",
+			"PLACEHOLDER": "Pick an existing DMP"
 		}
 	},
 	"INVITATION-EDITOR": {