Key takeaways from 19 research and infrastructure institutions: Part 6 – International Collaboration

Over the past few months, we have taken a closer look at 19 research and infrastructure institutions from Germany, Europe and North America: their history, governance models, funding sources, strengths, potential blind spots and opportunities. These institutions vary widely: some have existed for decades, whilst others are still finding their footing; some enjoy secure, long-term funding, whilst others move from one project phase to the next. In this six-part series, we examine the findings from this analysis most relevant to the establishment of a German Research Software Institution.

Research software is not bound by national borders: its standards are developed globally, it is used globally, and its community has been transnational from the very beginning.

The 19 institutions examined demonstrate just how varied the degree of international integration can be and what a significant difference this integration makes. Across the organisations studied, international engagement emerged as a recurring characteristic of successful and influential institutions.

One example is the German Network for Bioinformatics Infrastructure (de.NBI), which has been a member of the European ELIXIR network from the outset and has thus gained access to standards, training and shared services. Another example is the Software Heritage Archive for the preservation of source code. Founded in France, it has established international mirror sites to ensure that the preservation of critical code is not dependent on a single geographical location. These examples illustrate a broader lesson from the analysis: international connections increase both the reach and resilience of the German research software ecosystem.

An overly national focus can lead to isolation, which is a disadvantage in an international research system. The analysis suggests that three forms of international engagement are particularly important. Firstly: standards. The key standards for research software have emerged internationally, often through initiatives in which Germany has been involved. A German research software institution should play an active role in these efforts and help shape future standards. This requires not only technical expertise, but also staff who have the time to contribute to international bodies and initiatives.

Secondly: networks and alliances. In international associations such as the Research Software Alliance (ReSA) or the Coalition for Advancing Research Assessment (CoARA), best practices are exchanged, common positions are developed and cultural change is shaped. Several of the institutions examined are active participants in such initiatives and use their international visibility to strengthen their influence at the national level. A German research software institution should therefore become a formal member of these networks from an early stage.

Thirdly: bilateral cooperation. This presents a particular opportunity for a German initiative. The UK’s Software Sustainability Institute (SSI), established in 2010, is a pioneering organisation that has helped shape many of the standards now recognised internationally. The Netherlands eScience Center serves as a model for integrating RSEs into research projects and a national institution could have a similar impact in Germany. The Digital Research Alliance of Canada is a federal model that in some respects resembles the German federal structure and therefore offers particularly transferable lessons. A German institution could enter into formal partnerships with these organisations through joint working groups, exchange programmes or shared events.

A German research software institution can only realise its full potential if it has an international focus by design. Contributing to standards, participating in global alliances, building strategic partnerships, and embedding international collaboration should be part of its founding architecture. International cooperation is the key to rapid change for all those involved.