Strategy and priorities

Equitable access to effective research software practices across the research community.

To be the leading national centre of expertise for cultivating better, more sustainable research software to enable world-class research.

Evidence-based policy and guidance

We deliver evidence, recommendations and practical guidance to improve decisions about research software at the project, institutional, funder, and governmental levels.

Stronger research communities

We support building connected communities that share knowledge, develop skills and create the support needed for effective software practices.

Wider use of effective software practices

We help research teams adopt more reproducible, open, inclusive, and environmentally responsible practices, alongside better software recognition, maintenance, and reuse.

Broader access and participation

We connect people who use and create software with the wider digital research infrastructure landscape, and work to broaden participation and help more organisations contribute to research software sustainability.

We respond to important challenges in research. Our priorities evolve as the research landscape changes. We collaborate with a wide range of organisations and individuals to test new ideas, build resources and create lasting change around these themes.

Environmentally sustainable software

We help the community understand and reduce the environmental impact of computational research, and support institutions to turn sustainability commitments into practical action.

Explore Green DiSC

Responsible use of AI

We develop evidence, guidance and skills to help researchers use AI-supported software effectively, transparently and responsibly.

Read our guides on the use of AI

Explore why research software is critical to AI-driven research

Inclusion, access and recognition

We work to remove barriers to participation, broaden access to skills and opportunities, and improve recognition for the people and contributions that enable research.

Explore our Inclusive RSE research and guidance

Explore our Hidden REF work

Sustainable maintenance and funding

We investigate and test better ways to fund, maintain and support software that is important to research communities.

Explore the Research Software Maintenance Fund

Research software quality

We work with research communities to develop and share practical approaches to research software quality. We contribute to common guidance, tools and networks that help teams assess and improve their software.

Explore our work with software quality