A national research software institution can be seamlessly integrated into the German research ecosystem

Welcome to the fifth post in our six-part series exploring the future of research software in Germany. In each installment, we present opinion statements on why a national research software institution could and should be created to strengthen Germany’s research ecosystem.

In order to be effective, a national research software institution must be integrated across the research ecosystem, both horizontally among different organisations and disciplines, and vertically from local structures to international partnerships. This level of integration is both necessary and achievable.

Showing where activities are already occurring in Germany is key to strategic positioning for such an institution. Currently, the system is not adequately equipped to incorporate software methods into research effectively and in the desired broad manner. While some actors in Germany are already in a relatively good position, having tailored research software policies, structures, and points of contact — the Helmholtz Association being a particularly positive example — others require stronger links to existing initiatives and structures. These existing strengths can serve as starting points for forming networks and demonstrate that foundational elements for a national research software institution are already in place.

A community-driven approach is crucial for the successful implementation of this integration. Scientific institutions and societies across all disciplines should play an active role in establishing and supporting a research software institution. Interdisciplinarity offers particularly promising opportunities: solutions developed in one field can be applied in others, accelerating innovation and reducing redundant problem-solving efforts.

It must also be acknowledged that funding for a research software institution requires strategic prioritisation within limited research budgets. A national institution should therefore actively demonstrate its commitment to overcoming existing challenges and needs. Identifying hotspots and existing initiatives helps to communicate a focus on strategic consolidation and targeted support rather than dispersed, ad hoc investments. It is therefore crucial to recognise the importance of continuous advocacy and participatory design processes in fostering acceptance within the scientific community.

By engaging with the community, conducting continuous advocacy activities and strategically connecting to existing structures, a national research software institution can achieve broad acceptance and effective integration. It can then serve as both an extension of and a consolidation point for Germany’s research ecosystem.

Read all six posts of our series in one document: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.17672125