diff --git a/utils/README.md b/utils/README.md
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--- /dev/null
+++ b/utils/README.md
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+# OPL YAML utils
+
+This folder contains utility scripts for working with the YAML format to describe problems in context of OPL. They are mainly intended to be run automatically via GitHub Actions to make collaboration easier.
+
+The intended way of adding a new problem to the repository is thus as follows:
+
+* Change the [new_problem.yaml](new_problem.yaml) template file to fit the new problem.
+* Create a PR which modifies with the changes (for example with a fork).
+
+What happens in the background then is:
+
+* On PR creation and commits to the PR, the [validate_yaml.py](validate_yaml.py) script is run to check that the YAML file is valid and consistent. It is expecting the changes to be in the [new_problem.yaml](new_problem.yaml) file.
+* Then the PR should be reviewed manually.
+* When the PR is merged into the main branch, a second script runs (which doesn't exist yet), that adds the content of [new_problem.yaml](new_problem.yaml) to the [problems.yaml](../problems.yaml) file, and returns it to its previous version.
+
+:alert: Note that the GitHubActions do not exist yet either, this is a WIP.
+
+## validate_yaml.py
+
+This script checks the new content for the following:
+
+* The YAML syntax is valid and is in expected format
+* The required fields are present.
+* Specific fields are unique across the new set of problems (e.g. name)
+
+:alert: Execute from root of the repository. Tested with python 3.12
+
+```bash
+pip install -r utils/requirements.txt
+python utils/validate_yaml.py utils/new_problem.yaml
+```
diff --git a/utils/new_problem.yaml b/utils/new_problem.yaml
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+++ b/utils/new_problem.yaml
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+- name: template
+  suite/generator/single: suite
+  objectives: '1'
+  dimensionality: scalable
+  variable type: continuous
+  constraints: 'no'
+  dynamic: 'no'
+  noise: 'no'
+  multimodal: 'yes'
+  multi-fidelity: 'no'
+  reference: ''
+  implementation: ''
+  source (real-world/artificial): ''
+  textual description: 'This is a dummy template'
diff --git a/utils/requirements.txt b/utils/requirements.txt
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+++ b/utils/requirements.txt
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+pyyaml
diff --git a/utils/validate_yaml.py b/utils/validate_yaml.py
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+++ b/utils/validate_yaml.py
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+import yaml
+import sys
+
+# Define the required fields your YAML must have
+REQUIRED_FIELDS = [
+    "name",
+    "suite/generator/single",
+    "objectives",
+    "dimensionality",
+    "variable type",
+    "constraints",
+    "dynamic",
+    "noise",
+    "multimodal",
+    "multi-fidelity",
+    "reference",
+    "implementation",
+    "source (real-world/artificial)",
+    "textual description",
+]
+
+UNIQUE_FIELDS = ["name", "reference", "implementation"]
+PROBLEMS_FILE = "problems.yaml"
+
+
+def read_data(filepath):
+    try:
+        with open(filepath, "r") as f:
+            data = yaml.safe_load(f)
+            return 0, data
+    except FileNotFoundError:
+        print(f"File not found: {filepath}")
+        return 1, None
+    except yaml.YAMLError as e:
+        print(f"YAML syntax error: {e}")
+        return 1, None
+
+
+def check_format(data):
+    if len(data) != 1:
+        print("YAML file should contain exactly one top-level document.")
+        return False
+    if not isinstance(data[0], dict):
+        print("Top-level document should be a dictionary.")
+        return False
+    return True
+
+
+def check_fields(data):
+    if len(data) != len(REQUIRED_FIELDS):
+        print(f"YAML file should contain exactly {len(REQUIRED_FIELDS)} fields.")
+        return False
+    missing = [field for field in REQUIRED_FIELDS if field not in data]
+    if missing:
+        print(f"Missing required fields: {', '.join(missing)}")
+        return False
+    # Check that the name is not still template
+    if data.get("name") == "template":
+        print("Please change the 'name' field from 'template' to a unique name.")
+        return False
+    return True
+
+
+def check_novelty(data):
+    # Load existing problems
+    read_status, existing_data = read_data(PROBLEMS_FILE)
+    if read_status != 0:
+        print("Could not read existing problems for novelty check.")
+        return False
+    assert existing_data is not None
+    for field in UNIQUE_FIELDS:
+        existing_values = {
+            entry.get(field) for entry in existing_data if isinstance(entry, dict)
+        }
+        if data.get(field) in existing_values:
+            print(
+                f"Field '{field}' with value '{data.get(field)}' already exists. Please choose a unique value."
+            )
+            return False
+    return True
+
+
+def validate_yaml(filepath):
+    status, data = read_data(filepath)
+    if status != 0:
+        sys.exit(1)
+    if not check_format(data):
+        sys.exit(1)
+    assert data is not None and len(data) == 1
+    new_data = data[0]  # Extract the single top-level entry
+
+    # Check required and unique fields
+    if not check_fields(new_data) or not check_novelty(new_data):
+        sys.exit(1)
+
+    # YAML is valid if we reach this point
+    print("YAML syntax is valid.")
+    sys.exit(0)
+
+
+if __name__ == "__main__":
+    if len(sys.argv) < 2:
+        print("Usage: python validate_yaml.py <yourfile.yaml>")
+        sys.exit(1)
+
+    filepath = sys.argv[1]
+    validate_yaml(filepath)