About research ethics and integrity
Research ethics and integrity are essential for achieving excellence in research and innovation in Europe and beyond, as well as for maintaining public trust in science. They ensure adherence to high ethical standards, respecting human rights, dignity, and fundamental EU values. Moreover, as scientific and technological advancements raise complex ethical questions and may have significant (societal) impacts, integrating ethics into research becomes crucial. This integration is vital for responsibly using research results in the policy context and for delivering human-centred green and digital innovations that improve people's lives and prospects.
The role of the European Commission in research ethics and integrity
The Horizon Europe research and innovation programme provides the mandate for the European Commission to further develop a coherent EU ethics and integrity framework for research and innovation. This framework must adhere to the highest ethical standards and is guided by key documents such as the European Code of Conduct for Research Integrity, the European Charter for Researchers, and the Code of Conduct for the Recruitment of Researchers.
The programme also provides training opportunities in these areas (Council Decision (EU) 2021/764 of 10 May 2021).
The Commission implements this mandate by:
- Raising awareness: funding research projects to improve public knowledge and understanding of ethical and integrity challenges related to emerging technologies like artificial intelligence (AI), genomic techniques, biomedical and geoengineering, synthetic biology and neurotechnology.
- Building expertise: supporting capacity building and developing the expertise to integrate ethical and societal concerns into research and development processes, with the objective of maintaining public trust in science, and to reconcile rapid scientific and technological progress with fundamental EU values.
- Shaping policy: developing the ethics and integrity dimension in research and innovation policy for areas like open science, research assessment, and science for policy.
- Facilitating dialogue: encouraging it between the Member States’ ethics and integrity bodies and fostering international cooperation through initiatives like the National Ethics Councils Forum (NEC Forum).
- Ensuring compliance: designing and implementing the Ethics Appraisal Procedure to ensure all EU-funded research adheres to ethical principles and relevant legislation.
EU-funded projects on research ethics and integrity
Horizon Europe funds numerous projects to promote ethics and integrity in research.
These projects develop frameworks, tools, procedures, training, education, and capacity-building to support researchers, research ethics committees, research integrity offices, policymakers, and other relevant stakeholders.
They also illustrate how the EU is promoting dialogue with global partners for upholding ethics and integrity in research.
The work done by these projects contributes to the development of the EU ethics framework for emerging and new technologies which addresses their ethical dimensions through established principles and guidelines. In the context of artificial intelligence (AI) and other advanced technologies, it aims to ensure that innovation proceeds in a manner that is ethical, responsible, and aligned with fundamental rights. Additionally, through the Horizon Europe programme, the EU leads the way in addressing the ethical dimensions of the green and digital transitions.
Examples of EU-funded projects
Ethics of emerging technologies
The AIOLIA project, recognizing the gap between ethical values and their practical application in engineering, centres on translating AI Regulations such as the EU Artificial Intelligence Act and global AI frameworks into actionable guidelines for ethical AI use.
The TechEthos and iRECS projects supported the ethical development of new technologies with potentially high socio-economic impact.
The SIENNA project developed ethical protocols and codes for three technological areas: human genomics; artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics; human enhancement. Their Ethical Guidance for Research with a Potential for Human Enhancement became a reference document for Horizon Europe applicants and for the Horizon Europe ethics appraisal process.
The SHERPA project developed recommendations to ensure that ethical and human rights issues regarding AI are addressed, produced guidelines for ethical AI development and contributed to the Horizon Europe guidance on Ethics By Design and Ethics of Use Approaches for Artificial Intelligence.
The HYBRIDA project analysed the ethical and normative aspects stemming from organoids and their ethical governance.
The PANELFIT project contributed to the development of a new ethical and legal framework for the governance of information and communication technologies.
Research integrity
The Path2Integrity project uses storytelling and role play to teach research integrity to students and early-career researchers.
The INTEGRITY project offers training modules based on real-life research dilemmas.
The BEYOND project promotes research ethics using behavioural and evidence-based approaches.
The ROSiE project hhighlighted the importance of open science for research integrity and provides guidance for responsible Open Science.
The SOPs4RI project developed research integrity standard operating procedures for prevention, detection and handling of research misconduct in research institutions.
The SIMPLIFY project aims at 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.
Horizontal ethics issues
The RE4GREEN project aims to establish an ethics and integrity framework to support the transition to a sustainable economy and society.
The CHANGER project aims at promoting changes in research ethics reviews by helping researchers and Research Ethics Committees address challenges posed by new technologies and new research practices.
The TRUST project developed a Code of Conduct for Equitable Research Partnerships, translated into eleven languages, adopted by several international organisations, including the European Commission, and endorsed by the Council of the EU.
The PREPARED project created a framework to safeguard ethical values during crisis-driven research.
The PRO-Ethics project defined a framework for involving non-traditional stakeholders in research and innovation.
More information on EU-funded research projects on research ethics and integrity
Networks, groups, and initiatives
Beyond projects, the European Commission also coordinates or actively collaborates with several groups, networks, and initiatives to support research ethics and integrity in Europe. Key among these are the National Ethics Councils Forum (NEC Forum) and the European Group on Ethics in Science and New Technologies (EGE).
The National Ethics Councils Forum (NEC Forum)
The National Ethics Councils Forum is an independent network of representatives from the National Ethics Councils facilitating the exchange of information, experiences and best practices on ethics and science. The NEC Forum organises biannual meetings in the Member State holding the Presidency of the Council of the European Union.
European Group on Ethics in Science and New Technologies (EGE)
The European Group on Ethics in Science and New Technologies is an independent, multi-disciplinary body appointed by the President of the European Commission which advises on all policies, where ethical, societal and fundamental rights issues intersect with the development of science and new technologies. Since 2025 it is supported in its activities by European Academia and Ethics Bodies through the SAEGE project.
Other networks and initiatives
Several networks actively participate in Horizon Europe projects aimed at promoting ethics and integrity in research:
The European Network of Research Ethics Committees (EUREC) promotes capacity building and assistance for Research Ethics Committees to cooperate in the EU’s European Research Area.
The European Network for Research Ethics and Integrity (ENERI) is a permanent platform to facilitate communication and host practical recommendations and tools for researchers.
The European Network of Research Integrity Offices (ENRIO) is an informal network that brings together experts dealing with questions about research integrity.
The Network for Education and Research Quality (NERQ) is a new initiative that resulted from the Path2Integrity and INTEGRITY projects, which aims to increase the quality of teaching in research integrity, research ethics and open science.
The Embassy of Good Science Platform offers support in handling day-to-day research practices and dilemmas, and hosts materials developed by other relevant EU-funded projects. The community platform was set up as a result of EU-funded projects EnTIRE and VIRT2UE.
The VolREthics Initiative (Healthy Research Volunteers and Ethics) relates to the participation of healthy volunteers in biomedical research. The objective of the project is to lead to the sharing and discussion of practices at international level, so that each country can decide on the best way to protect its healthy volunteers.
The Ethics Appraisal Procedure for EU-funded activities
Ethics is an integral part of all research activities funded by the EU and the Horizon Europe programme. Ethical compliance, therefore, is pivotal for achieving true excellence in research. The Ethics Appraisal Procedure, as detailed in the Horizon Europe Programme Guide (Chapter 13), ensures that the ethical dimensions of all activities funded under Horizon Europe are properly assessed. Through the Horizon Europe Programme Guide, the Commission actively promotes the European Code of Conduct for Research Integrity; an 'ethics by design' approach for all research and innovation activities; and full adherence to ethical principles, fundamental rights, and applicable legislation.
A table describing all the activities of the Ethics appraisal procedure.
Key documents guiding the Ethics Appraisal Procedure
Guidelines on how to complete your ethics self-assessment
Guidelines on serious and complex ethics issues
Rules and Codes of Conduct informing the Ethics Appraisal Procedure
- HE Regulation 2021/695: Eligible actions and ethical principles (Article 18) and Ethics (Article 19)
- HE Model Grant Agreement: Ethics (Article 14 and Annex 5)
- Statement by the Commission on research activities involving human embryos or human embryonic stem cells
- EU Charter of Fundamental Rights
- ALLEA European Code of Conduct for Research Integrity
- Global Code of Conduct for Research in Resource-poor Settings
Standard Operating Procedures informing the Ethics Appraisal Procedure
- Guidelines for Promoting Research Integrity in Research Performing Organisation
- Standard Operating Procedures for Research Integrity
- Data Protection Decision Tree
- Designing and implementing a research integrity promotion plan: Recommendations for research funders
Domain-specific Guidance Notes supporting the Ethics Appraisal Procedure
The European Commission regularly publishes domain-specific ethical guidance to aid the research community, applicants and beneficiaries of EU-funding, Commission and Agency staff, and the ethics experts involved in the evaluation of Horizon Europe application and projects to consider the ethical implications of research – relevant not only Horizon Europe projects, but also for research in general.
- Guidance note on potential misuse of research results
- Guidance note on research focusing exclusively on civil applications
- Guidance note on research on refugees, asylum seekers and migrants
- Ethics and data protection
- Ethics in Social Science and Humanities
- Position of the European Network of Research Ethics Committees (EUREC) on the Responsibility of Research Ethics Committees during the COVID-19 Pandemic
- Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging
- Research Ethics in Ethnography/Anthropology
- Roles and Functions of Ethics Advisors/Ethics Advisory Boards in EC-funded Projects
- SIENNA Ethical guidance for research with a potential for human enhancement
- Guidelines on ethics by design/operational use for Artificial Intelligence
- ROSiE General Guidelines on Responsible Open Science
- ROSiE Discipline-specific Guidelines on Responsible Open Science
Contact
Ethics appraisal process for Horizon Europe funded research: EU Funding & Tenders Portal.
National Ethics Councils Forum
Research Enquiry Service (select subject 13. Ethics in the enquiry form)