Develop and implement an advocacy campaign to encourage companies to provide funds for maintaining research software projects

[dr-eric-jensen]

Potential Activity Scope
This proposed advocacy campaign could aim to engage companies in a concerted effort to provide funds and direct these funds into maintaining research software projects. The campaign could recognize the mutual interests, benefits, and responsibilities of both academic software projects and companies, seeking to foster a culture of collaboration, co-investment, and co-creation.

Key features of the campaign could include:

• Partnership with Industry: The campaign could engage companies across sectors, recognizing the shared value of supporting research software projects. This could include crafting compelling messages and creating platforms for collaboration.
• Joint Review Process: A core component could be the establishment of a joint academic-industry review process, involving reviewers from both academic software projects and the companies. This could ensure a transparent allocation of funds.
• Collaboration with Organizations: Collaboration with organizations such as NumFOCUS or similar entities could enhance the reach and results of the campaign.
• Alignment with Models: The campaign could draw inspiration from models such as Tidelift.

Potential Objectives

• To engage companies across sectors in supporting research software projects, recognizing the shared value and fostering a culture of collaboration, co-investment, and co-creation.
• To craft compelling messages and create platforms for collaboration, appealing to the mutual interests, benefits, and responsibilities of both academic software projects and companies.
• To consider establishing a joint academic-industry review process, involving reviewers from both academic software projects and the companies, ensuring a transparent and fair allocation of funds.
• To collaborate with organizations such as NumFOCUS or similar entities, leveraging their networks and expertise to enhance the reach and results of the campaign.
• To draw inspiration from existing models such as Tidelift, adapting strategies and approaches to suit the specific needs and context of research software maintenance.
• To implement a communication and engagement strategy, targeting key stakeholders to inspire, inform, and involve them in the campaign.
• To incorporate an ongoing monitoring and evaluation component, tracking progress, assessing impact, and adapting to emerging trends and feedback.

Targeted Impacts

• Overall, a more sustainable and supportive ecosystem for research software projects, where companies actively contribute to maintenance, and collaboration, co-investment, and co-creation are the norm.
• Strengthened collaboration and alignment between academic software projects and companies, fostering a sense of shared purpose and mutual benefit.
• Engaged and mobilized stakeholders, building momentum and support for the campaign.

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This potential activity was curated as part of "Charting the Course: Policy and Planning for Sustainable Research Software," a Sloan Foundation-funded project within URSSI dedicated to supporting the future of research software through evidence-informed policy work (Project contacts are: @danielskatz and @dr-eric-jensen). If you are interested in working on this, please add a comment.