Support the development and uptake of Ethics and Integrity Promotion Plans and Standard Operating Procedures

Expected Outcomes:

The realisation of a comprehensive approach to the effective implementation and operational simplification of research integrity and research ethics, in Horizon Europe and across the European Union, encompassing:

• The establishment of a robust framework of coordination, in close cooperation with the Commission services and the relevant stakeholders (including ENERI, ENRIO, ALLEA, EARMA, ENAI and the Embassy of Good Science), to strengthen the relevant links and ensure active and structured participation of the relevant stakeholders, associated networks, and institutions. In carrying out this process, wide geographical and gender diversity, coverage of all relevant academic fields, and interdisciplinarity need to be ensured. An open and inclusive approach will be used, involving early- and mid-career as well as senior experts of various, relevant backgrounds.
• In collaboration with the Commission services and the relevant stakeholders, associated networks, and institutions, to identify the concrete needs of research institutions for guidances and corresponding standard operating procedures, taking into account rapid scientific and technological developments (including related to the development and use of artificial intelligence)
• The development of standard operating procedures and corresponding education and training programmes, taking into account and building upon the guidance and materials developed by the relevant EU funded projects (such as SOPs4RI, RoSIE, TechEthos, PREPARED, iRECs, etc.)
• At the request and in collaboration with the Commission services, provide comprehensive reports detailing the outcomes, challenges, and recommendations for future actions, taking into account research integrity and ethics aspects of intersecting policy priorities (including in relation to the green and digital transitions, the development of trustworthy AI, the reform of research assessment, science for policy processes, research security, the protection of the freedom of research and international scientific collaboration).
• As appropriate, signal topics and challenges that may become relevant for the Commission, identified through techniques such as horizon scanning and consultation of the relevant stakeholders, institutions, and networks.
• In collaboration with the relevant stakeholders and scientific communities, lead the dissemination and promotion of the developed guidance and corresponding standard operating procedures, to support Horizon Europe applicants and beneficiaries and to foster increased collaboration and promotion of research integrity and ethics in Europe. For these purposes, the relevant existing digital platforms (such as the “Embassy of Good Science”) must be use and improved, in addition to other tools supporting effective communication, collaboration, and dissemination of materials.
• Implementing rigorous monitoring and evaluation protocols to assess the progress and impact of the relevant activities.

Expected Impact:

• To promote the reproducibility and quality of science and sustain societal trust in science, the Commission seeks to support the effective implementation and operational simplification of research integrity and research ethics, policies, practices, and procedures in research institutions across the EU, with primary focus on Horizon Europe applicants and beneficiaries, to better align research integrity and ethics promotion with the strategic goals of the Framework Programme, relevant research policy actions, and the broader EU policy landscape, including for enhancing the facilitative role of ethics and research integrity for the green and digital transitions and the development of trustworthy AI.
• To solidify the EU’s commitment to the highest standards of ethics and integrity, by supporting and further developing concrete measures for capacity building, including operational procedures, promotion plans, and training and education, supporting the research community, institutions, funders and ethics/integrity bodies to address existing as well as new challenges arising out of scientific and technological developments and policy priorities.
• To increase the uptake of the European Code of Conduct for Research Integrity and the availability and dissemination of training materials and appropriate procedures at institutional, regional and member state level.
• To support the capacity of the EUREC Office to develop and revise research integrity and ethics guidance and standard operating procedures, and enhance its capabilities to support, coordinate and monitor the effective implementation of the relevant standard operating procedures in research institutions.

Activities:

The grant supports activities including, but not limited to:

• Organizing workshops, conferences, and meetings to facilitate knowledge exchange, policy discussion, and strategic planning.
• Leading the collaborative and joint creation (or where necessary revising) of relevant operational guidance, toolboxes, and corresponding standard operating procedures to improve the promotion of research integrity and ethics within research institutions.
• Conducting studies, surveys, and research to inform the development of the relevant materials, monitor the implementation, and identify challenges.
• The organisation of relevant training programmes, including trough existing digital platforms (such as the embassy of good science and the EU Academy)
• Making use and improving relevant existing digital platforms (such as the “Embassy of Good Science”) and develop tools for effective communication, collaboration, and dissemination of materials.

Scope:

Ethics and research integrity are a prerequisite for excellence and societal trust in science and for the science-policy interface, and therefore a key component of the successful delivering of human-centred green and digital innovations that incorporate European values, in full adherence with ethical principles, fundamental rights, and the European Code of Conduct for Research Integrity, as required by the Horizon Europe Regulation.

The successful realisation of the activities described requires comprehensive expertise as well as the capacity to reach and engage all relevant stakeholders stakeholder, associated networks, and institutions. The EUREC Office is in a unique position, bringing together extensive expertise in research ethics and research integrity, steering both EUREC (the European Network of Research Ethics Committees) and ENERI (the European Network for Research Ethics and Integrity), with an active network that spans the research ethics and integrity community in Europe, and embeds the other relevant networks such as ENRIO (the European Network of Research Integrity Offices) as well as the Embassy of Good Science, thereby maximising the potential impact of the actions. Furthermore, as representative of research ethics committees across Europe, it is in a distinctive position to identify challenges related to ethics and integrity of research and develop pathways for concrete implementation of solutions.

In this regard, this grant will be awarded without a call for proposals according to Article 195(e) of the Financial Regulation and Article 24(3)(b) of the Horizon Europe Regulation.

The general conditions, including admissibility conditions, eligibility conditions, award criteria, evaluation and award procedure, legal and financial set-up for grants, financial and operational capacity and exclusion, and procedure are set out in Annexes A to G of the General Annexes to the Horizon Europe Work Programme 2023-2025.[[European Commission Decision C(2024) 2371 of 17 April 2024, available here.]]

The following exceptions apply:

The evaluation committee assessing this proposal will be fully composed of representatives of Union institutions or bodies.

Proposals must include budgeted cooperation with the e-platform Embassy of Good Science, and the European Networks ENERI (European Network of Research Ethics Committees and Research Integrity Offices), ENRIO (the European Network of Research Integrity Offices) and EARMA (European Association of Research Managers and Administators).