Supporting Solid Science
Jubilee Seminar
Committee for Public Information
Finnish Advisory Board of Research Integrity
Shared principles of responsible research and
innovation
Foundation for international collaboration
Marja Makarow
Academy of Finland
12.9.2012 House of Science and Letter
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The Grand Challenges
• Mankind and planet Earth are menaced by threats, ”Grand
Challenges”
• Such as lack of renewable energy sources, emerging
infectious diseases, scarcity of food or clean water,
aging population, poverty, mass migration, global warming
• The impact of the GCs can be managed by research
• Global problems require global solutions
by global collaboration between local actors
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Thus, a new approach is needed
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The GCs are all societal problems, and need systemic solutions
By multi-level activities
policy, strategy and implementation
By multi-stakeholder collaboration
public-private partnerships
By multidisciplinary research
humanities & social sciences with science & technology
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Understanding global implications of man’s behavior needs understanding of
social and cultural values, religions and beliefs, morals and prejudices
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Socio-enonomic analyses needed to support evidence-tested political decisions
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Intl collaboration needs coordination, alignement of tasks, division of labour,
requires pooling of national and supranational resources
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Horizon2020
Supranational thematic home for GC research
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Horizon2020 largely concentrating on GC themes and innovation
(2014-2020; up to 80 B€ suggested)
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Proposed research themes: (Finnish ones in brackets)
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Health, aging, well-being (Aging population and individuals)
Food safety, sustainable agriculture, bioeconomy, oceans
Safe, clean and efficient energy production (Sustainable energy)
Smart environmentally friendly traffic
Climate issues and raw materials (Northern climate and environment)
Safe and innovative societies (A healthy everyday for all)
(Dialogue of Cultures)
(Knowledge and know-how in the media-society)
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Criteria: excellence, implementation potential, foreseen impact
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Large multinational consortia to address GC themes,
co-funded from national sources
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Prerequisite for global collaboration:
Commmon understanding of ethical principles
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International efforts addressing research integrity
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2000 ESF: Policy Briefing “Good Scientific Practice in research and scholarship”
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2003 All European Academies: “Memorandum on Scientific Integrity”
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2008 ESF: Survey Report: “Stewards of Integrity: Institutional approaches to
promote and safeguard Good Research Practice in Europe”
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2009 OECD: Global Science Forum: “Investigating Research Misconduct.
Allegations in International Collaborative Research Projects: a Practical Guide”
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2010 ESF Member Organisation Forum: “European Code of Conduct for
Research Integrity”
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2010 2nd World Conference on Research Integrity:
“Singapore Statement on Research Integrity”
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European Code of Conduct for Research Integrity
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Applies all fields of science and humanities
Focuses on standards of integrity while
conducting research
Stimulates creation of institutional settings that
promote and safe-guard research integrity
Sets standards across Europe that can
eventually be applied world-wide
Is canon for self regulation, not a set of laws
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The Code is embedded in Report
“Fostering Research Integrity in Europe”
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Background and rationale
European CoC for Research Integrity
Implementation and awareness
Governance structures
Recommendations for the future
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Principles for Research Integrity
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Researchers, research institutes, universities, academies and funding
organisations commit to principles of scientific integrity
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Honesty
Reliability
Objectivity
Impartiality
Open communication
Duty of care
Fairness
Responsibility for future science generations
Employers have a responsibility to promote a culture of research integrity
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Forms of research misconduct
Most serious forms
• Fabrication
• Falsifiction
• Plagiarism
New trends
• Researchers: misdemeanours e.g. ‘adjustment’ of data, ‘cutting corners’,
hiding ‘unwelcome’ observations
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Institutions: improper dealing with infringements, e.g. attempts to cover up,
insufficient protection of whistle-blowers, violation of due process
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Politicians: production of copy-pasted PhD theses for career advancement,
universities neglecting control
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Recommendations for good research practice
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Proper research procedures
Design, analysis, documentation, reporting, publicity
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Responsible research procedures
Respect for colleagues, safety, care for object of research
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Data management
Storage, access
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Publication-related conduct
Honesty, speed, authorship, conflict of interest
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Reviewing/editorial issues
Honesty, fairness, accuracy, confidentiality, conflict of interest
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Recommendations for collaborative research
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Between individuals: Partners should agree to conduct research according to
norms and standards defined in the Code of Conduct for Research Integrity
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Inter-institutional: Alleged misconduct should be dealt with according to
policies and procedures applicable in the country of the partner with primary
responsibility, in line with the Code of Conduct for Research Integrity
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Cross-border: Internationally funded researchers should sign agreement
beforehand, e.g. standard plate text of the OECD Global Science Forum
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Next Steps
• Harmonisation (as far as possible) of existing regulations and codes with the
European Code of Conduct
• Implementation by funding and performing organisations, academies,
universities
• Monitoring the implementation of the Code
• Supporting international exchanges in European/global conferences
• Promoting the Code as an instrumental element in debates on international
collaborative research
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Summary of analysis of governance models
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Agency-specific
France, Germany, Ireland, Latvia, Poland, Spain, Switzerland
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Agency-specific with national oversight
Finland, Hungary, Netherlands, Sweden, UK
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National
Denmark, Norway, Poland
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Development of Code an all-European effort
28 major organisations in 20 countries participated
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Research funding organisations
Research performing organisations
Academies
All European Academies (58 member academies)
European University Association (>1000 member universities)
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Research funding organisations
Austria
Belgium
Switzerland
Czech Republic
Germany
Denmark
Finland
Croatia
Ireland
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Norway
Sweden
Slovak Republic
Turkey
UK
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Austrian Science Fund (FWF)
Research Foundation Flanders (FWO)
Fund for Scientific Research (F.R.S.-FNRS)
Swiss National Science Foundation
Czech Science Foundation
German Research Foundation (DFG)
Danish Agency for Science, Technology and Innovation
Academy of Finland
National Foundation for Science, Higher Education and Technological Development
Health Research Board (HRB)
Research Council of Lithuania
National Research Fund
Research Council of Norway
Swedish Council for Working Life & Social Research
Swedish Research Council
Slovak Research and Development Agency
Scientific and Technical Research Council of Turkey
Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC)
Research performing organisations
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France
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Germany
Italy
Lithuania
Spain
National Institute of Health and Medical Research (Inserm)
National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS)
Max Planck Society
National Research Council (CNR)
Lithuanian State Science and Studies Foundation
Council for Scientific Research (CSIC)
Academies
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Switzerland
Czech Republic
Finland
Netherlands
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Swiss Academies of Arts and Sciences
Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic
Delegation of the Finnish Academies of Science and Letters
Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW)
New pact between Research, Policy, Industry, Media, Civil Society
Researchers
• Aim at highest level of originality and quality
• Enter into global multi-disciplinary collaborations
Policy makers and funding agencies
• Ensure funding for free research, innovation and international collaboration
Industry
• Collaborate with academic researchers in spirit of open innovation
Media
• Inform citizens about advancement of science
Citizens
• Understand science and its importance for society
Cross-cutting prerequisite for this pact
• Mutual trust, based on integrity of all actors
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