Reclaiming Software Engineering as the Enabling Technology for the Digital Age

2026-01-21

AI Summary

This work argues that software engineering has been marginalized in the digital era, failing to be recognized as a strategic enabling discipline, which has resulted in its persistent underrepresentation in policy-making and research funding. The project proposes a paradigm shift by repositioning software engineering as a foundational discipline essential to emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence and quantum computing, rather than treating it as a mere ancillary component. Through policy analysis and disciplinary repositioning, the study emphasizes software engineering’s critical role in ensuring the sustainability, reliability, and technological sovereignty of digital systems. It culminates in a policy-oriented initiative directed at European and global decision-makers, advocating for institutional support and research investment commensurate with its foundational status in the digital innovation ecosystem.

Technology Category

• Application Domains: Software Engineering
• Knowledge Representation and Reasoning: Knowledge Engineering
• Philosophy and Ethics of AI: Societal Impact of AI

Application Category

• Responsible Web: Technology governance, policy, and regulations
• Systems and Infrastructure for Web, Mobile and WoT: Web applications in cross-disciplinary domains and verticals such as mixed reality, smart cities, and digital health
• Social Networks and Social Media: Computational social science

Abstract

Software engineering is the invisible infrastructure of the digital age. Every breakthrough in artificial intelligence, quantum computing, photonics, and cybersecurity relies on advances in software engineering, yet the field is too often treated as a supportive digital component rather than as a strategic, enabling discipline. In policy frameworks, including major European programmes, software appears primarily as a building block within other technologies, while the scientific discipline of software engineering remains largely absent. This position paper argues that the long-term sustainability, dependability, and sovereignty of digital technologies depend on investment in software engineering research. It is a call to reclaim the identity of software engineering.

Problem

• software engineering
• digital age
• enabling technology
• research investment
• policy frameworks

Innovation

• software engineering
• enabling technology
• digital sovereignty
• research policy
• sustainability