diff --git a/pom.xml b/pom.xml
index 29edf3d..e6b988d 100644
--- a/pom.xml
+++ b/pom.xml
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@
 
 	<groupId>net.clesperanto</groupId>
 	<artifactId>clesperantoj</artifactId>
-	<version>0.16.7-SNAPSHOT</version>
+	<version>0.16.7</version>
 
 	<properties>
 		<package-name>net.clesperanto</package-name>
@@ -94,7 +94,7 @@
 	<scm>
 		<connection>scm:git:https://github.com/clEsperanto/clesperantoj_prototype</connection>
 		<developerConnection>scm:git:git@github.com:clEsperanto/clesperantoj_prototype</developerConnection>
-		<tag>HEAD</tag>
+		<tag>clesperantoj-0.16.7</tag>
 		<url>https://github.com/clEsperanto/clesperantoj_prototype</url>
 	</scm>
 	<issueManagement>
diff --git a/release.properties b/release.properties
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..12dfde9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/release.properties
@@ -0,0 +1,28 @@
+#release configuration
+#Mon Jan 06 15:31:30 CET 2025
+completedPhase=end-release
+exec.activateProfiles=deploy-to-scijava
+exec.additionalArguments=-Dgpg.skip\=true 
+exec.pomFileName=pom.xml
+exec.snapshotReleasePluginAllowed=false
+pinExternals=false
+preparationGoals=clean verify
+project.dev.net.clesperanto\:clesperantoj=0.16.8-SNAPSHOT
+project.rel.net.clesperanto\:clesperantoj=0.16.7
+project.scm.net.clesperanto\:clesperantoj.connection=scm\:git\:https\://github.com/clEsperanto/clesperantoj_prototype
+project.scm.net.clesperanto\:clesperantoj.developerConnection=scm\:git\:git@github.com\:clEsperanto/clesperantoj_prototype
+project.scm.net.clesperanto\:clesperantoj.tag=HEAD
+project.scm.net.clesperanto\:clesperantoj.url=https\://github.com/clEsperanto/clesperantoj_prototype
+projectVersionPolicyConfig=<projectVersionPolicyConfig>${projectVersionPolicyConfig}</projectVersionPolicyConfig>\n
+projectVersionPolicyId=default
+pushChanges=false
+releaseStrategyId=default
+remoteTagging=true
+scm.branchCommitComment=@{prefix} prepare branch @{releaseLabel}
+scm.commentPrefix=[maven-release-plugin] 
+scm.developmentCommitComment=@{prefix} prepare for next development iteration
+scm.releaseCommitComment=@{prefix} prepare release @{releaseLabel}
+scm.rollbackCommitComment=@{prefix} rollback the release of @{releaseLabel}
+scm.tag=clesperantoj-0.16.7
+scm.tagNameFormat=@{project.artifactId}-@{project.version}
+scm.url=scm\:git\:https\://github.com/clEsperanto/clesperantoj_prototype