Our Solution
The 0.1% Solution
A small percentage of grant funding can solve the research software sustainability crisis.
How It Works
Collect
~0.1% from research grants
Track
Measure software usage & impact
Fund
Direct resources to maintenance
The Math
- Typical grant: $500,000
- Our contribution: $500 (0.1%)
- Impact: Sustainable funding for critical research tools
The U.S. funded research budget is ~$180B. Appropriating 0.1% of this budget ($180M) would fund the maintenance of all the software that researchers use across all disciplines. Even if only the non-defence research budget (~$100B) is considered, this would be enough to fund the maintenance of most of open-science tools. This is equal to hiring ~400 full-time software engineers with a median salary of $160,000 (and 50% overhead).
With the other countries joining the effort, we can build a sustainable funding model for open-science maintenance.
Four Key Principles
🔧 Maintenance First
Fund the boring but essential work of keeping software running, secure, and compatible.
📊 Usage-Based
Resources go to tools researchers actually use, measured through downloads, citations, and grant mentions.
🤝 Shared Services
Pool resources for documentation, security, testing, and community management.
🎯 Innovation Support
Competitive grants drive new tool development while maintenance gets guaranteed funding.
Organizational Structure
The OSC operates as an independent, non-governmental organization modeled after established international bodies like ISO or IEC, but specifically designed for research software sustainability.
Membership-Based Governance
🏛️ Institutional Members
Universities and research institutions with OSPOs become voting members, contributing funding and participating in strategic decisions.
🔬 Technical Committees
Domain experts from member institutions form committees to evaluate projects, set standards, and ensure quality across disciplines.
🔍 Auditing Bodies
Independent oversight committees provide transparency and accountability through regular audits and performance reviews.
⚡ Rapid Response
Streamlined processes enable quick funding decisions and support delivery without bureaucratic delays.
Beyond Standards Organizations
While inspired by standards bodies, the OSC serves a unique mission combining:
- Fund Collection & Distribution: Systematic gathering and allocation of sustainability funding
- Standards Development: Quality standards for research software and documentation
- Technical Oversight: Expert evaluation and continuous improvement processes
- Shared Services: Economy-of-scale benefits for security, testing, and community management
This structure ensures transparent operations, collegial decision-making, and rapid turnaround while maintaining the oversight and accountability that research communities require.
Implementation Plan
Phase 1: Pilot Programs
- Partner with 3-5 universities with established OSPOs
- Test with ~50 research grants
- Refine metrics and processes
Phase 2: Expansion
- Expand to 20+ institutions
- Integrate with major funding agencies
- Develop international partnerships
Phase 3: Scale
- National and international adoption
- Self-sustaining ecosystem
- Standard practice for research grants
Benefits for Everyone
🔬 Researchers
- More reliable, better-documented tools
- Less time troubleshooting, more time on science
- Reproducible research with stable software
🏛️ Universities
- Competitive advantage with better infrastructure
- Recognition for software contributions
- Reduced risk of research disruption
💼 Funding Agencies
- Greater return on investment
- Reduced duplication across grants
- Measurable software impact
👩💻 Software Maintainers
- Stable careers with predictable funding
- Professional recognition for maintenance
- Shared resources and community
Ready to Transform Research Software?
The math is simple: 0.1% of grant funding = 100% sustainable research infrastructure