This Dagstuhl Seminar seeks to ignite a focused dialogue on the strategic positioning and practical implementation of digital transformation in scientific research. Central to our discussion will be the role of Digital Centers or Hubs as flagship components of modern research infrastructure and the significance of Research Software Engineering (RSE) and Research Data Management (RDM) as essential enablers of their success.

The seminar's guiding question is: How can digital transformation be effectively embedded in the research landscape? Should it be steered centrally via comprehensive digital centers or emerge through decentralized, institution-driven initiatives? We will explore the strengths, limitations, and potential synergies of both models, with the goal of deriving actionable insights for sustainable digital infrastructure strategies.

Another focus is on the tension between disciplinary specificity and transdisciplinarity: Should digital competence centers closely align with specific research domains, or should they work across disciplines to foster collaboration and shared innovation? Understanding this balance is crucial for building effective, scalable digital ecosystems across institutions and research communities.

Furthermore, we will address the organizational and human resource aspects of digital transformation: What roles and responsibilities should Research Software Engineers take on to maximize their impact? What are the requirements throughout the research software lifecycle, and which additional roles and competencies are necessary to ensure success?

We will also consider the science itself, along with organizational questions, such as the digital tools that are increasingly being used to automate parts of the scientific process. For instance, they can suggest experiments and automatically explore various experimental setups. What if quantum computing begins to expand beyond the small niches where it is currently useful? How can we organize digital science centers to support such transformations?

Expected outcomes for the seminar include:

• Recommendations for strategically promoting digital transformation within research organizations.
• Clarifying essential roles and responsibilities in the establishment of digital infrastructure.
• Comparative insights into centralized versus decentralized and disciplinary versus interdisciplinary strategies.

This seminar presents a unique opportunity for researchers, infrastructure experts, and institutional leaders to collaborate in shaping the next generation of digital research ecosystems. We warmly invite you to participate in this important discussion.

Creative Commons BY 4.0

David J. Crandall, Dirk Nowotka, Justus Piater, and Katrin Schöning-Stierand