FutuRSI In-Person Meeting: Shaping the Future of a Research Software Institution

Recently, the FutuRSI team came together for an intensive in-person meeting to discuss the next steps in conceptualizing a future Research Software Institution (RSI) in Germany. The discussions focused on the long-term vision of the institution, different user groups, and the role of a central “Nexus” within the research software ecosystem.

An Open and Connected Vision

One of the key outcomes of the meeting was the shared vision of creating an open and inclusive structure for all actors in the German research software ecosystem. The planned “Nexus” is intended to serve as a visible, trustworthy, and coordinating body.

Importantly, the Nexus itself is not intended to provide comprehensive services, but rather to funnel people and requests to existing offers, communities, and partner structures. The goal is to better connect existing expertise and create a central point of contact within the ecosystem.

Collaboration with Existing Initiatives

Another key focus was collaboration with already existing communities and organisations such as de-RSE, HIFIS, or local RSE support initiatives. FutuRSI aims to strengthen and connect existing structures instead of building parallel offers.

In addition, discussions focused on how different target groups and their needs can be captured more effectively. Building on existing analyses, the goal is to identify gaps and develop new modular models that enable sustainable and scalable support structures.

Core Tasks and Next Steps

The future Nexus is expected to take on several core responsibilities, including:

• Network management and community building
• Advocacy for people developing research software and for the topic itself, as well as strategic communication
• Development of policies and guidelines
• Coordination of governance and board structures

Furthermore, initial concrete next steps were defined, including the development of a ticket and request system, outreach to additional potential network partners, and discussions about possible funding models.

Outlook

The meeting highlighted the importance of coordinated and community-driven structures for the research software ecosystem in Germany. FutuRSI sees itself as a connecting element within an already diverse community, with the goal of making existing initiatives visible, fostering collaboration, and building sustainable structures for the long term.