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Expand Up @@ -85,7 +85,7 @@ \section{Introduction}
We refer by researchers to all others involved in research or in research supporting organizations such as \eg libraries,
hence those that are at most sporadically performing RSE actions.

Furthermore, we will use the general term \textbf{RSE Hub} for the central RSE team throughout this paper.
Furthermore, we will use the general term \textbf{RSE Hub} for the central RSE team throughout this paper.
These RSE Hubs can take the form of, e.g., full RSE units, smaller RSE groups, Open Source Program Office (OSPOs), virtually across multiple units or combined under one single leader, depending on the evironment of the particular research organization under consideration.
All of these implementations are considered here, taking into account the large variety of research environments in Germany.

Expand All @@ -99,10 +99,10 @@ \section{Motivation}
In this chapter, we motivate dedicated RSE groups in German research organizations.
Several stakeholder perspectives are discussed and supported by (inter)national examples, including that of RSEs within RSE groups, RSEs embedded in research groups, Researchers in need of RSE resources, organizational management and that of funders.

We will draw parallels to research data here, because both, data and software, play a fundamental role in all of the research. Over the past decades, Research Data Management (RDM) has evolved into a topic of national interest with NFDI consortia for all disciplines and a research data law.
Federal state RDM initiatives\footnote{\url{https://forschungsdaten.info/fdm-im-deutschsprachigen-raum/deutschland/}} accelerate the topic further and provide regional training, networking and other supporting services.
Many research organisations have established central RDM groups that support research projects in all aspects from grant proposals to hands-on support and maintaining Data Management Plans (DMP).
Funding agencies acknowledge the importance of research data and started to make RDM mandatory in research projects.
We will draw parallels to research data here, because both, data and software, play a fundamental role in all of the research. Over the past decades, Research Data Management (RDM) has evolved into a topic of national interest with NFDI consortia for all disciplines and a research data law.
Federal state RDM initiatives\footnote{\url{https://forschungsdaten.info/fdm-im-deutschsprachigen-raum/deutschland/}} accelerate the topic further and provide regional training, networking and other supporting services.
Many research organisations have established central RDM groups that support research projects in all aspects from grant proposals to hands-on support and maintaining Data Management Plans (DMP).
Funding agencies acknowledge the importance of research data and started to make RDM mandatory in research projects.
Due to the similar nature of both, data and software, and their importance in today's digital research, it is reasonable to expect a similar trajectory in the development of research software as a topic.
%such output has become more important over the last two decades. Since research software can be considered valuable research output as well, we expect a similar trajectory for software.
%gh training researchers, the reusability through data repositories and to avoid duplication of effort.
Expand All @@ -120,9 +120,9 @@ \subsection{Tasks}
Examples of organizational training efforts are the Helmholtz HIFIS group [https://events.hifis.net/category/4/], the Scientific Software Center in Heidelberg [https://www.ssc.uni-heidelberg.de/en], the Competence Center Digital Research in Jena (zedif: [https://www.zedif.uni-jena.de/en/]), and the SURESOFT workshops series in Braunschweig ~\autocite{SURESOFTLink, Blech2022}.
Another national pioneer is the Göttingen State and University Library which set up a group of RSEs offering – besides training – services like data modeling and visualization, digital editions, portal development and more. They reported a remarkable increase in software quality, better grant applications, less brain drain and overall employee satisfaction levels~\autocite{schimavoigt2023}.
The demand for such services appears to be ever-increasing.
Other tasks include code review (REF? Charite), consultation services regarding frameworks or algorithm selection, licensing, and more.
RSEs have always embraced and supported collaborative infrastructure and tools, e.g. GitLab, Containerisation, etc. and thus enabled fellow researchers utilising such infrastructure.
In some national and international organisations, established RSE groups already develop solutions for (and guided by) research projects. This approach assures high quality research software and allows domain scientists to focus on their research challenges.
Other tasks include code review (REF? Charite), consultation services regarding frameworks or algorithm selection, licensing, and more.
RSEs have always embraced and supported collaborative infrastructure and tools, e.g. GitLab, Containerisation, etc. and thus enabled fellow researchers utilising such infrastructure.
In some national and international organisations, established RSE groups already develop solutions for (and guided by) research projects. This approach assures high quality research software and allows domain scientists to focus on their research challenges.
This is likely to save time and accelerate publication of results.


Expand All @@ -131,8 +131,8 @@ \subsection{Structure}

A central RSE team on long-term contracts will act as a knowledge hub due to their experience in and support of several disciplines as well as established contacts within the organisation.
This is comparable to commercial/industry R\&D departments, where key software architects and developers establish a knowledge hub and consult with as many projects as necessary [REF].
Subject matter experts like software architects, database administrators and other tooling specialists are organized centrally and share their knowledge by consulting with decentralized projects. It makes economically sense to organise such personel as cost-effective as possible since not every project can afford or needs such RSE FTEs.
Most academic research organizations have established centralized tooling, e.g. storage or HPC, but only a few consider software development and consultancy a relevant service yet.
Subject matter experts like software architects, database administrators and other tooling specialists are organized centrally and share their knowledge by consulting with decentralized projects. It makes economically sense to organise such personel as cost-effective as possible since not every project can afford or needs such RSE FTEs.
Most academic research organizations have established centralized tooling, e.g. storage or HPC, but only a few consider software development and consultancy a relevant service yet.
RSE units act as knowledge hubs in a network of academic developers within an organisation~\autocite{Elsholz2006}.
This enables the embedded experts to maintain in-depth knowledge and to assess current trends and developments, both in research as well as technology.

Expand Down Expand Up @@ -172,7 +172,7 @@ \subsection{International Comparison and Current Developments}

We welcome that the latest DFG grant application templates require discussion of both, data \textbf{and} software management (in line with their GWP guidelines~\autocite{dfg_gsp}).
%We also see the first grant applications [REF wellcome trust (seems to require an OutputMP that includes software, but only how/when it will be published, not how it will be created/maintained)? or others] requiring Software Management Plans (SMP).
In addition, dedicated Data Management Plans (DMP) have become mandatory in several funding calls (e.g., ...) and we expect to see a similar development for SMPs in the future. (There have been funding calls in the UK that required a SMP. [no ref?])
In addition, dedicated Data Management Plans (DMP) have become mandatory in several funding calls (e.g., ...) and we expect to see a similar development for SMPs in the future. (There have been funding calls in the UK that required a SMP. [no ref?])
% See https://www.forschungsdaten.org/index.php/Data_Management_Pl%C3%A4ne#Anforderungen_von_F%C3%B6rderorganisationen
% See https://www.researchdata.uni-jena.de/information/datenmanagementplan

Expand All @@ -197,10 +197,10 @@ \subsection{International Comparison and Current Developments}

\subsection{Towards a Thriving Future}

In conclusion, we observed that RSE groups already do support research software development, publication, and development among many important tasks.
In conclusion, we observed that RSE groups already do support research software development, publication, and development among many important tasks.

%Publication efforts for better software will increase discoverability which in turn will decrease duplication of effort.
%Scarce resources like professional staff, time and money are not put to waste.
%Scarce resources like professional staff, time and money are not put to waste.
%Instead, better software (publications) will lead to outstanding reputation.

A professionalization in software development and management can be expected to improve the transition from prototypes to software products.% to the benefit of everyone.
Expand Down Expand Up @@ -575,7 +575,7 @@ \subsubsection{Conceptualization}

\subsubsection{Installation of the Department}
Once the concept has been approved by the institution, the RSE unit can be installed accordingly.
The initial staffing depends crucially on the local institutional conditions.
The initial staffing depends crucially on the local institutional conditions.
One promising possibility is to start with two positions. The first one would be an RSE coordinator.
They will be the contact person for all institutional RSEs, organizing meetings, developing training programs, reporting to superordinate bodies, etc.
The second position would be a central RSE, responsible for providing selected services and infrastructure.
Expand Down Expand Up @@ -604,7 +604,7 @@ \subsection{Outsourcing}
Another possibility for the realization of local RSE Service providers is by forming a spin-off and pooling the RSE Skills into an external company, which has benefits but also drawbacks. [\#SuccessStory Outsourcing]
Among the most obvious benefits is that this enables the creation of contracts outside of the WissZeitVG.
This also widens the customer base of the RSE unit since the newly founded company may obtain contracts from industry.
If this company is university backed/branded this enables another possibility for a university to interact with the local society.
If this company is university backed/branded this enables another possibility for a university to interact with the local society.
But there are drawbacks.
Since the company is now a university external entity the Vergabe-Richtlinien have to be fulfilled, which could e.g. mean to publicly invite tenders in order to have a competitive procedure.
This also points to the fact that an external company has to be a mostly profitable entity (partly this can be softened by founding a non-for-profit entity).
Expand All @@ -620,7 +620,7 @@ \subsection{Staff Acquisition/People}
This leaves us with the question of, assuming we have centralized RSE units, where do we get the employees?
Being an RSE should be a career worth aspiring to as any other profession and hence we have to additionally create education structures that generate a pool of people where central RSE units can be populated from.
This is a topic that will be considered in a separate paper.
These RSEs will bring a diverse set of skills centered around the topics of research,
These RSEs will bring a diverse set of skills centered around the topics of research,
digital tools, and team-based work and hence can easily offer the consulting services mentioned in the previous section and guide people to their implementation in their workgroups.
To fill gaps, the RSE unit can also maintain a roster of freelance workers.
In order to retain RSEs it should be possible for them to become experts in a field and hence this should make this job more attractive to young RSEs,
Expand Down

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