Reclaiming Software Engineering as the Enabling Technology for the Digital Age

TL;DR

This paper emphasizes the critical role of software engineering as a strategic discipline vital for the advancement and sustainability of digital technologies like AI and quantum computing, advocating for increased research investment.

Contribution

It advocates for recognizing software engineering as an independent, enabling scientific discipline essential for the future of digital innovation and policy frameworks.

Findings

Software engineering underpins major technological breakthroughs.

Current policies treat software engineering as a supporting component.

Investment in software engineering research is crucial for digital sovereignty.

Abstract

Software engineering is the invisible infrastructure of the digital age. Every breakthrough in artificial intelligence, quantum computing, photonics, and cybersecurity relies on advances in software engineering, yet the field is too often treated as a supportive digital component rather than as a strategic, enabling discipline. In policy frameworks, including major European programmes, software appears primarily as a building block within other technologies, while the scientific discipline of software engineering remains largely absent. This position paper argues that the long-term sustainability, dependability, and sovereignty of digital technologies depend on investment in software engineering research. It is a call to reclaim the identity of software engineering.