Building a Home in the Research Software Ecosystem in Germany
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: Despite new initiatives and activities in Germany, there is currently no clear strategy or roadmap to unite these and leverage synergies within the German research system. This discussion paper proposes a conceptual framework for the German research software ecosystem. Using the metaphor of habitats and species, we distinguish research software infrastructure from a maturity-based classification of software into three tiers, and describe the people and structures that build and sustain the ecosystem. Additionally, we propose an ecosystem structured around three overlapping fields: the research software community; a field of software excellence; and a network of service providers, centred around the German Research Software Nexus, and underpinned by a participatory governance foundation. The framework is designed to foster a sustainable, robust, and inclusive ecosystem that recognises the importance of research software in scientific discovery. Aligning with the idea that research software is a fundamental research asset on par with data and paper publications, the paper aims to initiate a broad debate about a unified vision for the future of research software in Germany and invites readers to contribute to the conversation toward a concrete roadmap for Germany's research software ecosystem.
Language: English
Subfield: Information Systems and Management
Field: Decision Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W7208736115