How does complex software get from science to application? How can software solutions be optimally licensed? What should guidelines, processes and evaluation models for software IP look like in order for innovation and sustainability to succeed? These key questions were the focus of this year's two-day meeting of the Software Working Group of TransferAllianz e.V., which took place on April 7 and 8, 2025 at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT). The team from Innovation and Relations Management (IRM) welcomed almost 30 experts from German scientific institutions to an intensive dialog under the moderation of Dr. Sven Friedl (Charité BIH Innovation), head of the working group.

Software guidelines in dialog

After an informative introduction by Dr. Jens Fahrenberg (Head of IRM) and a tour of TRIANGEL Transfer | Kultur | Raum, the afternoon was dedicated to content-related work. The participants focused on software guidelines - a topic that concerns transfer offices throughout Germany. Three presentations brought together different perspectives:

• Tobias Schlauch presented the new “Musterleitlinie zur effizienten Entwicklung von Forschungssoftware” developed by the Gesellschaft für Informatik e.V. (GI) and de-RSE e.V. – Gesellschaft für Forschungssoftware, which also deals with "Technology Readiness Level" (TRL) and licensing. He also presented "Good Practices" for the development and publication of software at German Aerospace Center (DLR).
• Dr. Dennis Oliveira provided insights into the processes of the Forschungszentrum Jülich (FZJ) and the cross-FZJ path to a software guideline, which involved many participants. Both the achievements and the challenges involved became apparent.
• Andreas Barthel from the Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB) explained his institution's path to an open source manual from various aspects and presented, among other things, a decision tree that is central to the process.

The lively discussion among the participants showed that the challenges are great – but so is the shared knowledge.

Campus tour at KIT

Afterwards, Dr. Dirk Feuchter, License Manager for Software at KIT, led a tour of the Campus South in bright sunshine. The route led from the Ehrenhof via the cube of the KIT-Gründerschmiede through the InformatiKOM and on to TECO. There, Prof. Dr. Michael Beigl welcomed the participants together with Dr. Till Riedel, Senior Academic Advisor and Laboratory Director, and Yunus Bulut from ValidAItor. Bulut, founder of the KIT spin-off, presented his transfer path around his software platform for the quality and risk management of AI systems with palpable enthusiasm. After a final look at Forschungszentrum Informatik (FZI) and the Technologiefabrik in Haid-und-Neu-Straße, the participants went to dinner together, where the professional exchange continued in a relaxed atmosphere.

Evaluate with a system: IP-Scorecard

The second day initially focused on evaluation models for software IP. Barthel (PTB) and Friedl (BIH) presented the IP scorecard and an adaptation for software for discussion - as an instrument for evaluating software IP, taking into account various legal, technical and economic criteria. When used, a score between 0 and 10 is achieved. The IP scorecard for software is intended to help transfer offices to better assess and compare the value of software IP and thus make objective and factual progress in license negotiations. Here, too, there were open discussions, questions and additions.

Achieving more together

The subsequent working groups then went into conceptual depth: the participants split into three working groups to jointly draft a potential handout for the working group. In future, this could serve as a guide for transfer offices and scientific institutions - compact, practical and with references to existing publications.

Whether in discussions, during the Campus Walk or at the end of the day in Karlsruhe city centre - the meeting of the working group was characterized by a trusting and productive atmosphere. The exchange across institutional boundaries showed that the protection and transfer of software IP is complex, but viable solutions can be developed together. "It's impressive to see how the working group has led to such an open and constructive exchange on this complex topic throughout Germany," Feuchter summarized.

The challenges in the field of software IP will continue to provide the experts with plenty to discuss in the future. Accordingly,  is already great anticipation for the next virtual meeting in the fall and 2026 in presence, then at Leibniz Universität Hannover. KIT would like to thank all contributors and participants for the valuable exchange.