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Introduction to HERCULES SGI

HERCULES SGI (Sistema de Gestión de Investigación) is a comprehensive, enterprise-grade Research Management System designed specifically for the Spanish University System (Sistema Universitario Español - SUE). Built as part of the HERCULES project, it provides a complete platform for managing all aspects of university research operations.
HERCULES SGI is based on open semantic data standards, offering a global view of research data across the Spanish university system to improve management, analysis, and synergies between universities and the public.

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What is HERCULES SGI?

HERCULES SGI is a full-stack, microservices-based SaaS application that manages the complete research lifecycle from grant applications to intellectual property protection. The system is designed to:
  • Provide joint exploitation of research information across universities
  • Unify criteria for obtaining information with greater guarantees of accurate interpretation
  • Establish synergies and collaborations between universities and research groups
  • Increase transparency in university research management
  • Facilitate technology transfer and university-enterprise collaboration
  • Enable knowledge of scientific production for researchers and society
  • Facilitate integration of the Standardized CV (Currículum Vitae Normalizado - CVN)
  • Provide statistical data relevant to transparency in public service

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Key Features

Grant Management

Complete lifecycle management of research grants, applications, and funding opportunities

Project Tracking

Comprehensive project management including contracts, agreements, and collaborations

Ethics Review

Integrated ethics committee workflows for research project evaluation

IP Management

Industrial and intellectual property protection for inventions and innovations

Scientific Production

Track and manage research outputs, publications, and scientific contributions

Reporting & Analytics

Centralized reporting system with comprehensive analytics and insights

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Target Users

HERCULES SGI serves three primary user groups:

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Researchers (Personal Investigador)

  • Submit project proposals and ethics review applications
  • Manage research projects and collaborations
  • Track publications and scientific production
  • Manage intellectual property disclosures

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Research Administrators (Gestores de Investigación)

  • Process grant applications and project proposals
  • Manage funding calls and deadlines
  • Coordinate ethics committee reviews
  • Generate reports and compliance documentation

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Research Managers (Responsables de Investigación)

  • Monitor institutional research portfolio
  • Analyze research performance and metrics
  • Make strategic decisions based on comprehensive data
  • Ensure compliance with regulations and policies

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System Components

HERCULES SGI is built on a modern microservices architecture:
Backend: 11 Java/Spring Boot microservices providing RESTful APIsFrontend: Angular 11+ single-page application with Material DesignAuthentication: Keycloak OAuth2/OpenID Connect integrationDatabase: PostgreSQL with support for Oracle and SQL ServerSemantic Layer: Integration with the HERCULES semantic architecture

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Core Technologies

<!-- Backend Stack -->
<dependency>
  <groupId>org.springframework.boot</groupId>
  <artifactId>spring-boot-starter-web</artifactId>
</dependency>
<dependency>
  <groupId>org.springframework.boot</groupId>
  <artifactId>spring-boot-starter-data-jpa</artifactId>
</dependency>
<dependency>
  <groupId>org.springframework.boot</groupId>
  <artifactId>spring-boot-starter-oauth2-resource-server</artifactId>
</dependency>

// Frontend Stack
{
  "@angular/core": "~11.1.1",
  "@angular/material": "^11.1.1",
  "keycloak-js": "11.0.0",
  "@ngx-translate/core": "^13.0.0"
}

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Integration Capabilities

The system integrates with multiple external systems:
  • SGDoc: Document management system integration
  • SGP: Personnel management system integration
  • SGEmp: Enterprise/organization management integration
  • CVN: Standardized CV (Currículum Vitae Normalizado) import/export
  • External Research Databases: Semantic data exchange with other institutions

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Open Source & Licensing

HERCULES SGI is released under the GNU General Public License v3.0, ensuring it remains free and open for all Spanish universities and research institutions.
This system was developed as part of a publicly funded project and is designed to surpass currently available commercial solutions in the market.

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Next Steps

Quick Start

Get HERCULES SGI up and running in minutes

Architecture

Understand the system architecture and components

Configuration

Configure the system for your institution

API Reference

Explore the REST API documentation

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