Strategic priorities and challenges in research software funding: Results from an international survey

TL;DR

This paper explores how research funders prioritize support for research software and identifies key areas for improvement.

Contribution

The study provides the first empirical analysis of international funder priorities for research software.

Findings

Funders emphasize skills development, sustainability, and open science practices for research software.

Professional recognition and social aspects of sustainability are highlighted as under-addressed areas.

Increased attention in these areas could improve research software support and development.

Abstract

Research software is increasingly recognized as critical infrastructure in contemporary science. It spans a broad spectrum, including source code files, algorithms, scripts, computational workflows, and executables, all created for or during research. While research funders have developed programs, initiatives, and policies to bolster research software’s role, there has been no empirical study of how these funders prioritize support for research software. Understanding their priorities is essential to clarify where current support is concentrated and to identify strategic gaps.

We conducted an online mixed methods survey of international research funders (n=36) to explore their priorities in supporting research software. The survey gathered data on the specific outcomes funders emphasize in their programs and initiatives for research software.

The survey revealed that funders place strong emphasis on developing skills, promoting software sustainability, embedding open science practices, building community and collaboration, advancing research software funding mechanisms, increasing software visibility and use, fostering innovation, and ensuring security.

The findings highlight opportunities to enhance research software’s role through increased funder attention on professional recognition for software contributions and the non-technical, social aspects of research software sustainability. Addressing these areas could lead to more effective support and development of research software, ultimately benefitting the entire research ecosystem.