Funders
Our work from 2024 to 2028 is funded by UK Research and Innovation through its Digital Research Infrastructure programme. The funding is led by the Arts and Humanities Research Council under grant AH/Z000114/1.
This core funding supports our work across research, policy, training, communities, events, guidance and research software funding.
How we work with others
Collaboration has been central to the Institute since it was founded. We work with research organisations, professional societies, funders, infrastructure providers, community initiatives and industry. By bringing together different skills and perspectives, we can share knowledge, avoid duplicated effort and achieve more together.
Some collaborations support a particular project or programme. Others are longer-term relationships that help strengthen research software and the communities around it.
Strategic collaborations
We build long-term relationships with organisations that share our goals and complement our expertise. These collaborations help us develop skills, support communities, influence policy and improve software practices for research.
The Carpentries
We have a long-standing partnership with The Carpentries and support its training community in the UK, collaborating on foundational software and data skills, instructor development and openly available training materials. This collaboration helps more researchers gain practical skills while enabling institutions and communities to build their own training capacity. The Institute has helped facilitate more than 500 Carpentries workshops in the UK and has contributed to instructor and lesson-development training. Explore our partnership with The Carpentries
Research Software Alliance
We are a founding member of the Research Software Alliance (ReSA) and contribute to its international community, collaborating on research software policy, recognition, international coordination and more sustainable approaches to funding and maintaining software. We have also partnered with ReSA and provided staff support to deliver the first International Research Software Conference in September 2026. Research software challenges cross national boundaries. Working internationally helps communities, institutions and funders develop shared approaches and avoid duplicated effort. Explore our partnership with ReSA
Society of Research Software Engineering
We helped establish the Research Software Engineering movement and continue to work closely with its professional society, providing direct staff support that strengthens coordination between the two organisations. We collaborate on community development, careers, professional recognition, research and activities supporting Research Software Engineers. Recognising and supporting the people who develop software for research strengthens career paths and improves the quality and sustainability of research. Explore our contribution to Research Software Engineering
OLS
We work with Open Life Science to support leadership and mentoring within our Fellowship community, building on the Institute’s earlier support for OLS through its founders’ Fellowships. We collaborate on mentor and mentee training, professional development and inclusive approaches to community leadership. Effective mentoring helps Fellows develop as leaders and create lasting change within their disciplines, institutions and communities. Read more about OLS’ involvement in our 2024-2028 work
UK Reproducibility Network
We are part of the UK Reproducibility Network’s wider stakeholder community and collaborate on shared priorities. Together, we have developed and delivered training in FAIR, sustainable and collaborative software practices for researchers and Research Software Engineers across UKRN institutions. Better software practices make research methods easier to understand, test and reuse, increasing trust in research findings. Read an example of our collaboration with UKRN
Digital Scholarship at University of Oxford
Oxford has been involved with the Institute since its foundation. Through SSI-4, we work with its Digital Scholarship team to build a Community of Practice for arts and humanities Independent Research Organisations. Together, we are mapping software-related roles, identifying shared training and infrastructure needs, and developing research and case studies to inform future policy and investment. This collaboration helps recognise the diverse forms of software used in arts and humanities research and strengthens the people and communities behind them. Read about Oxford’s role in our 2024-2028 work