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Research software is a central output of science and is increasingly recognised as such. From 2028 onwards, software publications will be formally considered in the Helmholtz Association’s institutional reporting system.
To this end, the new Helmholtz Software Quality Indicator will be introduced as a key performance indicator (KPI) at the start of the PoF V reporting cycle. Integrated into the Helmholtz Research Software Directory (RSD), which was developed as part of HIFIS, the indicator provides a cross-center means of assessing the quality of software publications and collecting key figures.
The pilot phase for the implementation of the Software Quality Indicator and the collection of KPIs begins with the reporting year 2026.
Since July 2026, software maintainers can evaluate their software publications directly in the RSD using the Quality Indicator. A description of the process can be found here.
From now on, reporters can also register with the RSD and request organisation maintainer rights to obtain KPIs on their center’s software publications. Each software publication that meets the minimum criteria of the Quality Indicator is counted as research output. A manual for reporters can be found here.
At an information event organised by the Helmholtz Task Group for Quality Indicators and the Helmholtz Open Science Office on 8 October 2026, the process of obtaining KPIs in the RSD for Helmholtz reporting was demonstrated. Around 60 staff members from the Helmholtz Centers, who are responsible for the collection, verification, processing and quality management of the software KPIs, took part and provided valuable feedback.
Reporters are invited to test the reporting function and workflow in the RSD. Feedback on the Software Quality Indicator can be submitted here and helps to continually improve both the indicator and its implementation.
Get in touch
- For any questions or issues regarding the reporting functionality in the RSD: support@hifis.net
- For questions regarding the concept and strategy of the Software Quality Indicator: open-science@helmholtz.de
