diff --git a/TEMPLATE_hermes_github_to_zenodo.yml b/TEMPLATE_hermes_github_to_zenodo.yml
index 3f6b8ab..c7dd404 100644
--- a/TEMPLATE_hermes_github_to_zenodo.yml
+++ b/TEMPLATE_hermes_github_to_zenodo.yml
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ jobs:
       - uses: actions/setup-python@v4
         with:
           python-version: '3.10'
-      - run: pip install hermes
+      - run: pip install git+https://github.com/softwarepub/hermes.git
       - run: hermes harvest
       - run: hermes process
       - run: hermes curate
@@ -92,12 +92,12 @@ jobs:
       - uses: actions/setup-python@v4
         with:
           python-version: '3.10'
-      - run: pip install hermes
+      - run: pip install git+https://github.com/softwarepub/hermes.git
 
       # ADAPT
       # If you want to publish artifacts (e.g., a zipped snapshot of your repository),
       # you can prepare this here.
-      - run: git archive --format zip HEAD src > showcase.zip
+      - run: git archive --format zip HEAD src > artifact.zip
 
       # Run the HERMES deposition and postprocessing steps.
       # ADAPT
@@ -106,7 +106,7 @@ jobs:
       # 2. Adapt the files you want to deposit. In the example, showcase.zip and README.md are deposited alongside the metadata.
       # 3. Check if you want to run with '--initial', as this may potentially create a completely new record (collection),
       #    rather than a new version of the same collection!
-      - run: hermes deposit --initial -O invenio_rdm.auth_token ${{ secrets.ZENODO_SANDBOX }} --file showcase.zip --file README.md
+      - run: hermes deposit --initial -O invenio_rdm.auth_token ${{ secrets.ZENODO_SANDBOX }} --file artifact.zip --file README.md
 
       # ADAPT
       # Remove this command if you don't want to do any postprocessing
diff --git a/gitlab/hermes-ci.yml b/gitlab/hermes-ci.yml
index 849dc88..c163ccf 100644
--- a/gitlab/hermes-ci.yml
+++ b/gitlab/hermes-ci.yml
@@ -74,7 +74,7 @@
         python -m venv .hermes-env
       fi
     - . .hermes-env/bin/activate
-    - pip install hermes
+    - pip install git+https://github.com/softwarepub/hermes.git
   tags:
     - docker
   artifacts:
diff --git a/init-templates/hermes-ci.yml b/init-templates/hermes-ci.yml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..3e6c38a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/init-templates/hermes-ci.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,198 @@
+# SPDX-FileCopyrightText: 2023 German Aerospace Center (DLR), Forschungszentrum Jülich, Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf
+#
+# SPDX-License-Identifier: CC0-1.0
+
+# "Call-back" to create archive
+.hermes_create_deposition: &hermes_create_deposition
+  - git fetch origin "$MR_TARGET_BRANCH"
+  - git archive --format zip "origin/$MR_TARGET_BRANCH" {%deposit_zip_files%} > $HERMES_ARCHIVE
+
+# Basic building blocks of hermes jobs
+# - Set up git with a valid author and configure URL to allow pushes.
+.hermes_prepare_git: &hermes_prepare_git
+  - git config user.name "$GITLAB_USER_NAME"
+  - git config user.email "$GITLAB_USER_EMAIL"
+  - git remote set-url origin "${CI_SERVER_PROTOCOL}://__token__:${HERMES_PUSH_TOKEN}@${CI_SERVER_HOST}:${CI_SERVER_PORT}/${CI_PROJECT_PATH}.git"
+
+# - Switch to new MR_SOURCE_BRANCH.
+.hermes_switch_branch: &hermes_switch_branch
+  - git branch "$MR_SOURCE_BRANCH" "origin/$MR_TARGET_BRANCH"
+  - git switch "$MR_SOURCE_BRANCH"
+
+# - Commit changes and create a matching merge request.
+.hermes_create_merge_request: &hermes_create_merge_request
+  - |
+    if git diff --cached --quiet; then
+        echo "No staged changes. Skipping MR creation."
+    else
+        git commit -m "$MR_COMMIT_MESSAGE"
+        git push origin "$MR_SOURCE_BRANCH" \
+          -o merge_request.create \
+          -o merge_request.target="$MR_TARGET_BRANCH" \
+          -o merge_request.title="$MR_TITLE" \
+          -o merge_request.description="$MR_DESCRIPTION" \
+          -o merge_request.remove_source_branch
+    fi
+
+# - Delete all branches created by hermes for curation.
+.hermes_cleanup_branches: &hermes_cleanup_branches
+  - |
+    for BRANCH in $(git ls-remote origin 'refs/heads/hermes/curate-*' | cut -f2 | cut -d'/' -f'3-'); do
+      git push origin --delete "$BRANCH"
+    done
+
+# Base job template for hermes
+.hermes_job:
+  stage: deploy
+  image: python:3.10
+  cache:
+    key: hermes
+    paths:
+      - .hermes-env
+  before_script:
+    - *hermes_prepare_git
+    - |
+      if test ! -d .hermes-env
+      then
+        python -m venv .hermes-env
+      fi
+    - . .hermes-env/bin/activate
+    - {%pip_install_hermes%}
+{%pip_install_plugins_gitlab%}
+  tags:
+    - docker
+  artifacts:
+    paths: [".hermes/", "hermes.log"]
+    when: always
+
+# hermes metadata preparation - this job creates a MR that will trigger deposition when merged.
+.hermes_curate:
+  extends:
+    - .hermes_job
+  variables:
+    MR_BASE_REF: "origin/$CI_COMMIT_BRANCH"
+    MR_SOURCE_BRANCH: hermes/curate-result-$CI_COMMIT_SHORT_SHA
+    MR_TARGET_BRANCH: hermes/curate-$CI_COMMIT_SHORT_SHA
+    MR_COMMIT_MESSAGE: "[hermes] Add metadata for curation"
+    MR_TITLE: Metadata Curation for Commit $CI_COMMIT_SHORT_SHA
+    MR_DESCRIPTION: >-
+      Please carefully review the attached metadata.
+      If you are satisfied with the result, you may merge this MR, which will trigger publication.
+      (Any temporary branches will be cleaned up.)
+  rules:
+    - exists:
+      - .hermes/curate/target_branch
+      when: never
+    - if: $CI_COMMIT_TITLE =~ /^Merge branch 'hermes\/post-[0-9a-f]{8}' into/
+      when: never
+    - if: $CI_PIPELINE_SOURCE == "push" && {%gl_push_condition%}
+    - when: never
+  script:
+    # Run hermes pipeline
+    - hermes harvest
+    - hermes process
+    - hermes curate
+
+    # Store branch & commit ref for post-processing
+    - |
+      if [ -z "$MR_POST_BRANCH" ]
+      then
+        if [ ! -z "$CI_COMMIT_BRANCH" ]
+        then
+          MR_POST_BRANCH=$CI_COMMIT_BRANCH
+        else
+          MR_POST_BRANCH=""
+        fi
+      fi
+      echo $MR_POST_BRANCH > .hermes/curate/target_branch
+      echo $CI_COMMIT_REF_NAME > .hermes/curate/commit_ref
+
+    # Create target branch for curation merge
+    - {%gl_create_curate_branch|default('git branch "$MR_TARGET_BRANCH" "$MR_BASE_REF"', true)%}
+    - git push origin "$MR_TARGET_BRANCH"
+
+    # Create curation branch and merge request
+    - *hermes_switch_branch
+    - git add -f .hermes/curate
+    - *hermes_create_merge_request
+
+# hermes deposition and post-processing - this job creates a MR to re-integrate the results of post-processing.
+.hermes_deposit:
+  stage: deploy
+  extends:
+    - .hermes_job
+  variables:
+    HERMES_ARCHIVE: {%deposit_zip_name%}
+    MR_SOURCE_BRANCH: hermes/post-$CI_COMMIT_SHORT_SHA
+    MR_COMMIT_MESSAGE: "[hermes] Add post-processing results"
+    MR_TITLE: Review hermes post-processing results
+    MR_DESCRIPTION: >-
+      This is an automated pull request created by HERMES post-processing.
+      Please carefully review the changes and finally merge them into your
+  rules:
+    - if: $CI_PIPELINE_SOURCE != "push" || $CI_COMMIT_BRANCH !~ /^hermes\/curate-[0-9a-f]{8}/
+      when: never
+    - exists:
+      - .hermes/curate/target_branch
+  script:
+    # Restore target branch
+    - MR_TARGET_BRANCH="$(cat .hermes/curate/target_branch)"
+
+    # Get target branch from tag ref if empty
+    - |
+        # Test if empty and .hermes/curate/commit_ref exists
+        if [ -z "$MR_TARGET_BRANCH" ] && [ -s .hermes/curate/commit_ref ]; then
+            # Get default branch
+            DEFAULT_BRANCH="$CI_DEFAULT_BRANCH"
+
+            # Take tag ref from .hermes/curate/commit_ref
+            REF="$(tr -d '\r\n' < .hermes/curate/commit_ref)"
+            TAG="${REF#refs/tags/}"
+
+            # Get commit
+            git fetch --force --tags origin '+refs/heads/*:refs/remotes/origin/*' >/dev/null 2>&1 || true
+            TAG_COMMIT="$(git rev-parse "${TAG}^{commit}" 2>/dev/null)" || exit 0
+
+            # Check if the default or another branch contains the tag commit
+            if git merge-base --is-ancestor "$TAG_COMMIT" "origin/$DEFAULT_BRANCH"; then
+                MR_TARGET_BRANCH="$DEFAULT_BRANCH"
+            else
+                BRANCH_REF="$(
+                    git for-each-ref --contains "$TAG_COMMIT" --format='%(refname:short)' refs/remotes/origin \
+                    | grep -vE '^origin/(hermes/|HEAD$)' \
+                    | head -n1
+                )"
+                if [ -n "$BRANCH_REF" ]; then
+                    MR_TARGET_BRANCH="${BRANCH_REF#refs/heads/}"
+                fi
+            fi
+        fi
+
+    {%% if deposit_parameter_zip_file %%}
+    # Invoke callback to create {%deposit_zip_name%} and publish
+    - *hermes_create_deposition
+    {%% endif %%}
+    # Call deposit to publish
+    - hermes deposit {%deposit_initial%} {%deposit_parameter_token%} "${%deposit_token_name%}" {%deposit_parameter_zip_file%} {%deposit_extra_files%}
+
+    # Skip on missing target branch
+    - |
+        if [ -z "$MR_TARGET_BRANCH" ]; then
+            echo "MR_TARGET_BRANCH is empty. Skipping postprocess."
+            exit 0
+        fi
+
+    # Prepare clean branch for post-processing and run it
+    - *hermes_switch_branch
+    - hermes postprocess
+
+    # Put all changes into a merge request (all but .hermes-env)
+    - git add .
+    - git reset .hermes-env
+    - *hermes_create_merge_request
+  after_script:
+    - *hermes_cleanup_branches
+
+.hermes_cleanup:
+  script:
+    - *hermes_cleanup_branches
diff --git a/init-templates/hermes_github.yml b/init-templates/hermes_github.yml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..07e1d5b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/init-templates/hermes_github.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,165 @@
+# SPDX-FileCopyrightText: 2023 German Aerospace Center (DLR), Forschungszentrum Jülich, Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf
+#
+# SPDX-License-Identifier: CC0-1.0
+
+
+name: Software Publication
+
+on:
+  # This trigger on {%gh_push_branches_or_tags%} being pushed starts the HERMES pipeline.
+  push:
+    {%gh_push_branches_or_tags%}:
+      - {%gh_push_target%}
+
+  # This trigger on closed pull requests is mandatory for the rest of the HERMES workflow.
+  pull_request:
+    types:
+      - closed
+
+jobs:
+  hermes-prepare:
+    name: Prepare Metadata for Curation
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+
+    if: >
+      github.event_name == 'push' && ! (
+        startsWith(github.ref_name, 'hermes/') ||
+        contains(github.event.head_commit.message, 'hermes/post')
+      )
+
+    permissions:
+      contents: write # Allow creation of new branches
+      pull-requests: write # Postprocessing should be able to create a pull request with changes
+
+    steps:
+      - uses: actions/checkout@v3
+      - uses: actions/setup-python@v4
+        with:
+          python-version: '3.10'
+      - run: {%pip_install_hermes%}
+{%pip_install_plugins_github%}
+      - run: hermes harvest
+      - run: hermes process
+      - run: hermes curate
+
+      - run: |
+          # Cache current branch for PR close job
+          git branch --show-current > .hermes/curate/target_branch
+          echo "${{ github.ref }}" > .hermes/curate/commit_ref
+
+          # Shorten the SHA for the PR title
+          SHORT_SHA=$(echo "$GITHUB_SHA" | cut -c -8)
+          echo "SHORT_SHA=$SHORT_SHA" >> "$GITHUB_ENV"
+
+          # Create a curation branch
+          {%gh_create_curate_branch|default('git branch -c "hermes/curate-$SHORT_SHA"', true)%}
+          git push origin "hermes/curate-$SHORT_SHA"
+
+          # Explicitly add to-be-curated metadata (which is ignored via .gitignore!)
+          git add -f .hermes/curate
+      - uses: peter-evans/create-pull-request@v7
+        with:
+          base: hermes/curate-${{ env.SHORT_SHA }}
+          branch: hermes/curate-result-${{ env.SHORT_SHA }}
+          title: Metadata Curation for Commit ${{ env.SHORT_SHA }}
+          body: |
+            Please carefully review the attached metadata.
+            If you are satisfied with the result, you may merge this PR, which will trigger publication.
+            (Any temporary branches will be cleaned up.)
+          delete-branch: true
+
+  hermes-curate:
+    name: Publish Software with Curated Metadata
+    if: github.event.pull_request.merged == true && startsWith( github.base_ref , 'hermes/curate-')
+
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    permissions:
+      contents: write # Allow creation of new branches
+      pull-requests: write # Postprocessing should be able to create a pull request with changes
+
+    steps:
+      - uses: actions/checkout@v4
+      - uses: actions/setup-python@v5
+        with:
+          python-version: '3.10'
+      - run: {%pip_install_hermes%}
+{%pip_install_plugins_github%}
+      {%% if deposit_parameter_zip_file %%}
+      # Archive the artifacts that will be published
+      - run: git archive --format zip HEAD {%deposit_zip_files%} > {%deposit_zip_name%}
+
+      {%% endif %%}
+      # Run the HERMES deposition step
+      - run: hermes deposit {%deposit_initial%} {%deposit_parameter_token%} ${{ secrets.{%deposit_token_name%} }} {%deposit_parameter_zip_file%} {%deposit_extra_files%}
+
+      # Run the HERMES postprocess step
+      - run: hermes postprocess
+
+      # Prepare pull request to include the post-processing results
+      - run: echo "TARGET_BRANCH=$(cat .hermes/curate/target_branch)" >> "$GITHUB_ENV"
+
+      # Take target_branch from tag ref if empty
+      - run: |
+            # Test if empty and .hermes/curate/commit_ref exists
+            if [ -z "$MR_TARGET_BRANCH" ] && [ -s .hermes/curate/commit_ref ]; then
+                # Get default branch
+                DEFAULT_BRANCH="${{ github.event.repository.default_branch }}"
+
+                # Take tag ref from .hermes/curate/commit_ref
+                REF="$(tr -d '\r\n' < .hermes/curate/commit_ref)"
+                TAG="${REF#refs/tags/}"
+
+                # Get commit
+                git fetch --force --tags origin '+refs/heads/*:refs/remotes/origin/*' >/dev/null 2>&1 || true
+                TAG_COMMIT="$(git rev-parse "${TAG}^{commit}" 2>/dev/null)" || exit 0
+
+                # Check if the default or another branch contains the tag commit
+                if git merge-base --is-ancestor "$TAG_COMMIT" "origin/$DEFAULT_BRANCH"; then
+                    echo "TARGET_BRANCH=$DEFAULT_BRANCH" >> "$GITHUB_ENV"
+                else
+                    BRANCH_REF="$(
+                        git for-each-ref --contains "$TAG_COMMIT" --format='%(refname:short)' refs/remotes/origin \
+                        | grep -vE '^origin/(hermes/|HEAD$)' \
+                        | head -n1
+                    )"
+                    if [ -n "$BRANCH_REF" ]; then
+                        echo "TARGET_BRANCH=${BRANCH_REF#refs/heads/}" >> "$GITHUB_ENV"
+                    fi
+                fi
+            fi
+
+      # Create the pull request
+      - uses: peter-evans/create-pull-request@v5
+        if: ${{ env.TARGET_BRANCH != '' }}
+        with:
+          branch: hermes/post-${{ github.run_id }}
+          base: ${{ env.TARGET_BRANCH }}
+          title: Review hermes post-processing results
+          body: |
+            This is an automated pull request created by HERMES post-processing.
+
+            Please carefully review the changes and finally merge them into your
+
+      # Delete all the curation branches
+      - run: |
+          for BRANCH in $(git ls-remote origin 'refs/heads/hermes/curate-*' | cut -f2 | cut -d'/' -f'3-'); do
+            git push origin --delete "$BRANCH"
+          done
+
+
+  hermes-cleanup:
+    name: Cleanup aborted curation branches
+    if: github.event.pull_request.merged == false && startsWith( github.base_ref , 'hermes/curate-')
+
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    permissions:
+      contents: write # Allow creation of new branches
+      pull-requests: write # Postprocessing should be able to create a pull request with changes
+
+    steps:
+      - uses: actions/checkout@v4
+      # Delete all the curation branches
+      - run: |
+          for BRANCH in $(git ls-remote origin 'refs/heads/hermes/curate-*' | cut -f2 | cut -d'/' -f'3-'); do
+            git push origin --delete "$BRANCH"
+          done
diff --git a/init-templates/hermes_gitlab.yml b/init-templates/hermes_gitlab.yml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..05edccf
--- /dev/null
+++ b/init-templates/hermes_gitlab.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,18 @@
+# SPDX-FileCopyrightText: 2023 German Aerospace Center (DLR), Forschungszentrum Jülich, Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf
+#
+# SPDX-License-Identifier: CC0-1.0
+
+include: gitlab/hermes-ci.yml
+
+# "Call-back" to create archive
+.hermes_create_deposition: &hermes_create_deposition
+  - git fetch origin "$MR_TARGET_BRANCH"
+  - git archive --format zip "origin/$MR_TARGET_BRANCH" > $HERMES_ARCHIVE_NAME
+
+hermes_curate:
+  extends:
+    - .hermes_curate
+
+hermes_deposit:
+  extends:
+    - .hermes_deposit