Create and maintain a public repository of funding opportunities for research software maintenance

[dr-eric-jensen]

Potential Activity Scope
This activity involves conducting desk-based research to delineate the various funding opportunities available for research software maintenance, collate pertinent data, generate a publicly accessible summary, and ensure that this summary remains current.

The activity will require a process of outlining the specific parameters, goals, and standards to be applied to systematic identification, categorization, etc. of the relevant funding opportunities. This means pinpointing the particular facets of research software maintenance covered by a funding opportunity, the diversity of funding avenues to be explored, the information sources to be used, etc.

The process of data gathering should be as methodical as possible, within the bounds of available budget and human resources. This requires accessing a wide array of information sources (e.g., ReSA’s list of funding opportunities).

The public summary should be user-friendly with appropriate metadata. It should provide the key details needed by its target users/audience. A continuous revision procedure should be put in place to ensure continuous observation to confirm that the public summary stays in sync with the fluctuating landscape of funding opportunities for research software maintenance.

Potential Objectives

• To delineate the spectrum of relevant funding opportunities that focus on research software maintenance.
• To identify a broad range of funding opportunities from a multitude of sources, including but not limited to governmental bodies, private enterprises and foundations, academic institutions, and nonprofit organizations.
• To develop an efficient and comprehensive data gathering methodology that leverages both online and offline resources, balancing thoroughness with cost and time considerations.
• To standardize a method for categorizing identified funding opportunities based on relevant parameters such as the amount of funding available, application deadlines, eligibility criteria, and intended use of funds.
• To collate the data into an accessible, easily understandable summary that concisely presents the key details of each identified funding opportunity.
• To establish a process for periodic review and updates of the summary, ensuring its accuracy and relevance on a continuous basis

Targeted Impacts
The impact of a successful execution of these objectives could include:

• Elevated clarity and understanding of the funding landscape for both experienced researchers and newcomers, reducing time spent on search and increasing time for actual research.
• Promotion of cross-disciplinary knowledge transfer, as researchers from various fields can utilize the resource to expand their research horizons.
• Potential for growth in the sphere of research software maintenance, supported by the availability of a streamlined, up-to-date resource on funding opportunities.

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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.