We are excited to announce the latest update of helmholtz.software which adds the ability to evaluate research software based on the Helmholtz Software Quality Indicator.
Helmholtz Software Quality Indicator
Research software, and its importance in the scientific landscape, has received increasing attention over the past few years. With the upcoming PoF V (Program-Oriented Funding) period starting in 2028, Helmholtz acknowledges this development and plans to treat research software and research data as research outputs that are equally important as journal publications. This paradigm shift will allow researchers to receive acknowledgement for work that previously went unrecognised.
But which software and which data should be counted as scientific output? This question had been addressed since 2022 by the Task Group Helmholtz Quality Indicators for Data and Software Products, coordinated by the Helmholtz Open Science Office. The research software sub group has been developing a mechanism to determine software eligibility using an approach based on the COBIT maturity model. The result is a criteria catalogue based on six dimensions:
- Findable
- Accessible
- Interoperable
- Reusable
- Scientific Basis
- Technical Basis
For each of these dimensions, specific criteria have been defined that are used to determine software quality. Research software has to gain a predefined minimum score in each dimension to be countable. More details about the methodology can be found on the official task group page (accessible for Helmholtz members). The indicator will be applied for the first time to research software published in 2026.
For software maintainers
Starting today, you can evaluate your software using the task group’s criteria catalogue directly on helmholtz.software. You will now find a “Reporting” menu entry in your software edit view, which will guide you to the evaluation:
When you start an evaluation for a specific year, you will be guided through the process:
For further details, please refer to our user documentation, which provides a step-by-step guide to evaluating your code.
For reporters and librarians in the research centres
The Helmholtz RSD will also provide functionality for reporters at individual research centres to collect evaluation results for PoF reporting. We are currently developing this feature and plan to release it later this year. Please contact us via support@hifis.net if you wish to learn more or if you are interested in establishing helmholtz.software as your official tool for evaluating research software.
Login now possible for every Helmholtz associate
With the current update we have enabled login for all Helmholtz associates. Previously, access was restricted to employees at Helmholtz centres. Now, visiting scientists or PhD students are also permitted to create accounts on helmholtz.software.
Feedback
Do you have questions or need assistance? Reach out to the HIFIS team at support@hifis.net.
