Open-source Software Indicators of Science and Engineering Activity

Thomas M. Menino Convention & Exhibition Center 

Research and development spending, production of skilled workers, and counts of patents and publications are frequent-used indicators of inputs and intermediate activities within each economy or region's science and engineering (S&E) activities. However, for purposes of science and innovation policy some of the most sought-after indicators are those that quantify the outputs and impacts of S&E activity. Software in general and open-source software (OSS) are rapidly growing outputs of S&E activity that contribute to innovation and productivity. Indicators of this output are essential to understand where and how these tools are created.

S&E activity is increasingly embedded in and documented through software tools that are freely available to use, reuse, and modify. These tools are developed by contributors from all sectors of the economy. OSS allows free access to modifiable digital tools that are used for work and leisure and constitutes a part of intangible investment with the qualities of knowledge-based public goods. Despite its widespread use, the extent and impacts of OSS on the economy and innovation remain largely unknown, which may help illustrate aspects of technology diffusion and flow that would enhance science and technology indicators.

Starting in 2022, the National Science Board's Science and Engineering Indicators report began including measures of OSS for government, academic institutions, and businesses, and for countries where contributors reside (NSB 2022). These indicators were created using data collected from GitHub, the largest open source-code hosting platform in the world, and from the federal government's Code.gov, which catalogs OSS projects developed and shared by government agencies.

This presentation updates and extends indicators developed for and presented in the National Science Board's Science and Engineering Indicators report released in 2022. It describes the methodology for developing these indicators and provides a preview of preliminary indicators that are being prepared for the Science and Engineering Indicators report planned for release in 2026. These indicators include the number of open-source software (OSS) repositories created by year, by U.S. economic sector (academia, government, business, non-profit) and by country, as well as network analysis of OSS collaborations across countries.