ALLEA Research Ethics and Integrity Council

ALLEA Research Ethics and Integrity Council Holds Inaugural Meeting in Berlin

On 24 March 2026, the ALLEA Research Ethics and Integrity Council (REIC) held its inaugural meeting at the Berlin-Brandenburg Academy of Sciences and Humanities (BBAW) in Berlin. It brought together research ethics and integrity experts from ALLEA Member Academies under the chairpersonship of Dr Maura Hiney (Royal Irish Academy). The meeting marked the formal launch of the Council’s activities, building on the legacy of ALLEA’s Permanent Working Group on Science and Ethics (PWGSE) and its contributions to shaping the European research integrity landscape.

The session was opened by ALLEA’s new Director, Tatjana König, who welcomed Council members. She acknowledged the achievements of the PWGSE, particularly the European Code of Conduct for Research Integrity (ECoC), now widely recognised as a key reference document for researchers, institutions, funders and policymakers. Council members represent a wide range of disciplines – including philosophy, law, medical ethics, computer science, and the natural sciences – and diverse national contexts, reflecting the interdisciplinary and international nature of research ethics and integrity challenges.

The European Code of Conduct for Research Integrity: Towards the Next Revision

A central focus of the meeting was the future development of the European Code of Conduct for Research Integrity (ECoC). Building on its 2023 revision, the Council initiated discussions on the next update, envisaged for publication in 2028. Members emphasised the importance of maintaining the Code’s core principles while ensuring its continued relevance in a rapidly evolving research environment. Since the 2023 publication, the Code has been translated into 25 European and non-European languages.

Key areas identified for consideration in the next revision include the implications of emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, the ethical dimensions of research in poly-crisis contexts, research security, funding transparency, and the influence of social media on research practices. The group also highlighted the need to maintain the high-level nature of the Code while balancing specificity with flexibility, ensuring that the Code remains applicable across national systems and disciplinary contexts.

Preparatory work on the revision process is now underway, which will be informed by extensive stakeholder consultation planned over the coming year. Digital presentation of the Code to highlight the excellent supplements produced by EU projects on specific ethics and integrity issues will also form part of the Council’s work.

Strengthening Research Ethics and Integrity through European Collaboration

The Council also discussed its contribution to European research policy, particularly in the context of the European Research Area (ERA) and specifically in the ERA Action 18 on Ethics and Integrity. The REIC will support ongoing efforts to promote the dissemination and implementation of the Code, as well as to monitor emerging ethical challenges across Europe.

Two Horizon Europe-funded projects – SIMPLIFY and SAEGE – were presented as key initiatives linked to the Council’s work. SIMPLIFY aims to strengthen the implementation of research ethics and integrity frameworks at institutional level, while SAEGE supports the activities of the European Group on Ethics (EGE) by providing research and evidence synthesis. Both projects offer important opportunities for collaboration, knowledge exchange, and alignment with the REIC’s objectives.

Looking Ahead: Priorities and Next Steps

The meeting concluded with an exchange on priorities for the Council’s future work. In addition to the Code revision, members identified a range of topics for further exploration, including academic freedom, citizen science, responsible research in policy contexts, and the ethical implications of commercialisation and dual-use research.

The inaugural meeting demonstrated a strong commitment among members to advancing research ethics and integrity in Europe and to ensuring that the European Code of Conduct remains a robust and forward-looking framework for responsible research.

UK Young Academy

ALLEA Welcomes the UK Young Academy as its 61st Member

ALLEA can now count among its members the UK Young Academy following recent election by current membership. This addition marks the eighth Young Academy within the ALLEA network. Bringing this academy into ALLEA’s network not only supports young academics – it fosters further cooperation between Young and Senior Academies as well.

The UK Young Academy is a UK-wide, interdisciplinary membership organisation of early-career individuals who are passionate about making a difference in the world. Bringing together a diverse membership of researchers, innovators, clinicians, professionals, academics and entrepreneurs, it works to tap into the collective potential and expertise of its membership to tackle important issues in society at local, national and global levels, and provide a voice to the UK’s early-career landscape.

The Young Academy was established in 2022 as a first-of-its-kind collaboration between the seven senior academies across the UK and Ireland: the Academy of Medical Sciences, British Academy, Learned Society of Wales, Royal Academy of Engineering, Royal Irish Academy, Royal Society of Edinburgh, and the Royal Society. It currently sits under the operational auspices of the Royal Society. 

ALLEA Joins ERA Action 18 and SIMPLIFY Launch

Last week, ALLEA participated in the official launch of the European Research Area (ERA) Policy Action 18 on Research Ethics and Integrity and a preparatory meeting for the SIMPLIFY project. The event, hosted by the European Commission in Brussels, brought together key stakeholders and Member State representatives committed to strengthening ethical standards and integrity across the European research landscape.

ALLEA is proud to serve as a co-sponsor of ERA Policy Action 18, which focuses on reinforcing ethics and integrity frameworks across the European Research Area. The initiative is structured around four key objectives:

  • Connecting existing European networks and stakeholders in research ethics and integrity to build a sustainable community of practice.

  • Facilitating dialogue, training activities, mutual learning, and the exchange of good practices among research institutions, funders, policymakers, and professional communities.

  • Developing practical guidance, operational tools, and standard operating procedures, including the revision of ALLEA’s European Code of Conduct for Research Integrity.

  • Promoting a shared culture of ethics and integrity throughout the ERA.

The launch event successfully convened representatives from EU Member States, European organisations, and Horizon Europe projects. Discussions focused on concrete ways to strengthen ethical practices and integrity in research, both at institutional levels and in day-to-day research activities.

SIMPLIFY, a newly funded Horizon Europe project, marks an important step towards a more coordinated, resilient, and evidence-based approach to research ethics and integrity governance in Europe. The project aims to foster alignment across countries and institutions, supporting a shared European pathway in this critical area. ALLEA looks forward to working closely with project partners, including EUREC, ENRIO, ENAI, EARMA, and The Embassy of Good Science, in what promises to be a productive and collaborative initiative.

Through its involvement in both SIMPLIFY and ERA Action 18, ALLEA reaffirms its commitment to advancing responsible research and fostering trust in science across Europe.

Read more on ALLEA’s work in the field of Research Ethics and Integrity here.

Tatjana Konig

ALLEA Welcomes New Director

On 16 March, ALLEA welcomed Tatjana König as the new Director of the Secretariat. Ms König brings extensive leadership experience to ALLEA, having served for many years as Managing Director of the Falling Walls Foundation, an international platform connecting leaders in science, innovation, and society. Following her tenure at Falling Walls, she was a  member of the Executive Board of the Körber-Stiftung, which amongst its many activities annually awards the Körber European Science Prize to honor distinguished scientists conducting research in Europe. At the Foundation, Ms König oversaw the education, science, and communications portfolios, and spearheaded the modernisation of its communications activities.

I am delighted to be appointed Director of ALLEA and to work with all its member academies in jointly strengthening the role of science in society, in ensuring scientific integrity, and defending academic freedom, which is more important than ever. 

– Tatjana König, Director, ALLEA 

Ms König’s wide-ranging expertise in academic settings, politics, complex organisational leadership, stakeholder engagement, and international networks places her in a prime position to lead ALLEA’s diverse strategic interests at the nexus of science and policy, and the secretariat welcomes the chance to work with her, on behalf of ALLEA’s member academies.

Job Opening: A Communications Manager to Showcase ALLEA’s Activities on the European Stage

ALLEA is currently seeking an experienced and versatile Communications Manager (Full-Time) to join our team in Berlin for a duration of two years (with the possibility of extension) as soon as possible.  

ALLEA e.V. is the European Federation of Academies of Sciences and Humanities, representing more than 60 academies from 40 EU and non-EU countries. ALLEA e.V. operates at the interface of science, policy and society and acts on behalf of its members to promote science as a global public good, facilitate scientific collaboration across borders and disciplines, improve the conditions for research, provide the best independent and interdisciplinary science advice, and strengthen the role of science in society.  We are currently looking for a full-time Managers to lead ALLEA’s communications activities across Europe. 

Role and responsibilities  

As Communications Manager, you will lead on all ALLEA communications activities and be responsible for developing and implementing a coherent communications strategy to promote ALLEA’s mission and activities to various stakeholders, including the academic community, policymakers, and the public. Reporting to the ALLEA Director, and in close collaboration with other team members, your regular tasks and responsibilities include:  

  • Develop and implement ALLEA’s communications strategy and brand to increase visibility and impact
  • Effectively produce, manage, and coordinate communications measures and activities (e.g., publications, events, websites, social media, newsletters)
  • Create and edit content for websites, brochures, news articles, press releases; manage layout, format, and graphic design of these products
  • Handle media queries, initiate and maintain relationships with relevant journalists and media
  • Organise and manage public events, workshops, webinars, online meetings and conferences to engage with stakeholders and the public
  • Engage in horizon-scanning of relevant public and media debates to identify current and upcoming opportunities for effective communication
  • Collect and analyse data to evaluate and demonstrate the impact of communications activities 
  • Liaise with partners and support colleagues in implementing collaborative and cross-cutting communications initiatives

Profile, skills, and experience  

  • Master’s degree in a relevant subject (ideally in e.g., communications studies, journalism, public relations, graphic design, marketing, public policy)
  • At least 4-5 years of experience in communications, preferably in a non-profit and/or academic setting
  • Native-speaker-level proficiency in English, orally and in writing; other foreign languages skills are an asset
  • Excellent writing, editing, and proofreading skills; experience in science communication is an asset
  • Experience and/or familiarity with relevant software, apps, and CMS especially Adobe InDesign, Canva, and WordPress
  • Proficiency in managing social media profiles (especially LinkedIn)  
  • Experience in organising public events (physical, hybrid, digital)  
  • A quick learner and pro-active team player with a keen eye for detail who appreciates working in an international team and environment 
  • Interest in the areas of expertise of ALLEA (international scientific collaboration, science communications, research policy, science advice, evidence-informed policymaking, etc.) is desirable

What we offer 

  • International working environment as part of a committed and dynamic team
  • Options to work flexibly between our office facilities in the centre of Berlin and remotely
  • Competitive salary depending on qualifications and experience level
  • Employment contract follows regulations of German TV-L collective agreement and includes annual bonus, overtime compensation, and 31 annual leave days (including 24 and 31 December) 
  • Job ticket subsidy (Deutschlandticket) and company pension scheme subsidy (bAV)
  • Training opportunities

How to apply 

Please submit your digital application with a cover letter, CV, an example of a short written text (in English), a sample of a graphic design work, and relevant references or corresponding certificates in one single PDF document (5 MB max.) to recruitment@allea.org as soon as possible and including salary expectations. The deadline for applications is 12 April 2026. Applications will be processed on a rolling basis. 

ALLEA promotes equal opportunities and diversity. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, genders, sexual orientations, and abilities. If you have any questions, please contact: Lydia Götze, ALLEA HR and Administration Officer | recruitment@allea.org | Phone: 030 206 066-500  

Further information on ALLEA’s activities can be found on our Website and on LinkedIn. 

 

 Registrations Open for ALLEA General Assembly 2026 in Warsaw

ALLEA has officially opened registrations for its General Assembly 2026, taking place from 26–29 May in Warsaw, hosted by the Polish Academy of Sciences. Bringing together leading voices from across the European research community, this year’s Assembly comes at a critical moment marked by geopolitical tensions, economic uncertainty, and increasing pressure on scientific institutions and academic freedom.

Under the theme “Towards a Futureproof European Research Area: Boosting Trust, Integrity, and Resilience,” the event will focus on how Europe can strengthen its research systems while safeguarding the core values of scientific independence, collaboration, and integrity.

As Europe navigates a complex landscape of global challenges and prepares for key policy developments such as the anticipated European Research Area (ERA) Act, the Assembly will provide a platform for essential dialogue among academies, researchers, policymakers, and other stakeholders. Discussions will explore not only policy solutions but also the role of the research community itself in reinforcing trust in science and sustaining cross-border collaboration.

Public Conference and Programme Highlights

A central highlight of the Assembly will be the ALLEA Public Conference on 27 May, held at the Copernicus Science Centre. The conference will open with a keynote address by Robbert Dijkgraaf, President-Elect of the International Science Council, followed by a high-level panel featuring perspectives from academia, research funders, publishers, and policy representatives.

The programme will also include:

  • A lecture by Professor Maria Leptin, President of the European Research Council (ERC) and 2025 ALLEA Madame de Staël Prize Laureate
  • Satellite events organised with CoARA and SAPEA, focusing on research assessment reform and inclusive science advice
  • Collaboration with the European National Young Academies (ENYA), fostering intergenerational dialogue between early-career researchers and senior scholars

All public-facing sessions are open to a broad audience, encouraging wide participation in shaping the future of the European Research Area.

Join the Conversation

With mounting challenges facing science and society, ALLEA invites participants from across Europe and beyond to take part in this timely exchange and contribute to building a more resilient and future-ready research ecosystem.

Registration is now open: https://forms.gle/m4TqrEEmS1KN4BVX6
Full programme and details: https://www.alleageneralassembly.org/

ALLEA looks forward to welcoming participants to Warsaw this May for what promises to be a vital and engaging gathering.

The ALLEA Sharing and Protecting Data Task Force Holds its Inaugural Meeting

On 19 January 2026, the inaugural meeting of the ALLEA Sharing and Protecting Data Task Force took place online. This Task Force will tackle the complex balance between open access to research data and the need for robust protection of privacy, security, and intellectual property rights. It aims to address sensitive fields such as health and biotechnology, where responsible data sharing is vital for scientific progress and societal benefit.

Bringing together experts in law, computer and social science, and data governance, the interdisciplinary group will examine how regulations such as the GDPR affect international collaboration and research data exchange. Its goal is to develop guidance and advocate for fair, secure, and transparent data-sharing policies that strengthen research integrity and mobility.

Operating to at least 2027, the Task Force will produce recommendations, engage with European and global partners, and contribute to shaping the European Research Area’s (ERA) policy agenda on open science. It builds on the successful work of the long-standing ALLEA Working Group on Intellectual Property Rights and activities promoting access to scientific information.

We thank all participants for a productive and inspiring first meeting!

ALLEA Hosts Event on Making Peer Review More Visible

 

How can the invisible labour of peer review be meaningfully recognised and rewarded? This question was at the heart of the recent workshop, Turning Recommendations into Reality: Implementing Mechanisms for Recognising and Rewarding Peer Review, which brought together funders, research institutions, publishers, and researchers in Berlin to move from principles to practice.

On 15 January 2026, ALLEA, on behalf of the CoARA Working Group on Recognising and Rewarding Peer Review, organised a hybrid workshop in Berlin to build on its recommendations published in July 2025, which outlined practical ways to better acknowledge peer review as a core scholarly contribution. Participants discussed mechanisms ranging from recognising review activities in CVs and performance evaluations, to registering contributions in research information systems and platforms such as ORCID.

Discussions also highlighted broader challenges facing the peer review system. While openness and transparency are increasingly encouraged, participants emphasised the need for flexibility across disciplines. In some fields, open peer review may strengthen collaboration and recognition, participants cautioned that in others anonymity remains essential due to competitive pressures and power imbalances between junior and senior researchers. Another recurring theme was sustainability. With the volume of publications continuing to rise, many participants noted the growing imbalance between submissions and available reviewers. Proposals such as linking submissions to a proportional number of reviews were discussed as potential ways to re-balance the system and reinforce peer review as a shared academic responsibility.

The workshop concluded with hands-on design sprints, where participants developed pilot proposals to test new approaches to recognising peer review. These ideas, which focused on implementable and scaleable solutions, were designed to support organisations in embedding peer review recognition into research assessment practices and advancing CoARA’s broader goal of more responsible and holistic evaluation systems. Some points highlighted during the design sprint include:

  • Exploring the feasibility of assigning formal credit to reviewers, such as issuing certificates, DOIs for review reports, or other verifiable recognition mechanisms. These credits could be publicly visible where appropriate and incorporated into academic evaluations, helping to incentivise high-quality reviewing while preserving flexibility for anonymous peer review where needed.
  • Using existing infrastructures, such as ORCID profiles or institutional CRIS systems, to systematically record peer review activities. By registering reviews in a verifiable way, researchers could demonstrate their reviewing contributions across publishers and funders, enabling portable and standardised recognition across institutions.
  • Institutions and funders could introduce dedicated sections in CVs, grant applications, and annual review processes where researchers report their peer review activities.
  • Making peer review activities more open open and transparent could improve the qualities of reviews, and ultimately allow contribute to research excellence by not only increasing accountability, but by offering the possibility of reviewers collaborating with authors in the long-term.

If you would like to consider piloting the recommendations of the CoARA Working Group on Recognising and Rewarding Peer Review, register your interest here.

ALLEA Task Force on Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion in Research Holds First Meeting in Expanded Format

On 15 December, the ALLEA Task Force on Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) in Research convened online for its first meeting.

The meeting followed the appointment of eight new members from ALLEA Member Academies, who joined seven continuing members from the existing group. It marked an important milestone in the Task Force’s renewed mandate, with discussions focusing on its objectives, reflections on past activities, and priority areas and working modes for the year ahead. 

Initiated by the British Academy and co-chaired by Dr Molly Morgan Jones, the Task Force promotes intersectionality, fairness, transparency, and inclusiveness across the European research landscape. It provides a platform for sharing policies and innovative practices that improve access to research opportunities and leadership positions, address bias, including algorithmic bias, and support early- and mid-career researchers. Through evidence gathering, dialogue, and collaboration, the group aims to strengthen research excellence by fostering truly diverse perspectives, experiences, and backgrounds. 

Running from 2024 to at least 2026, the Task Force will continue to collect and disseminate good practices, develop principles and guidance, and offer recommendations to national academies and institutions. Its work seeks to improve framework conditions for EDI within the European Research Area (ERA), particularly in the contexts of strengthening gender equality and inclusiveness, improving access to excellence, making research careers more attractive and sustainable, promote equity in Open Science, and addressing bias in AI research, contributing to more inclusive and resilient research cultures across Europe. 

ALLEA at the Paris Conference on Strengthening Public Trust in Science – and First Meeting of New Task Force

On 11 December, ALLEA joined policymakers, researchers, and science‐policy experts in Paris for a conference on Strengthening Public Trust in Science, co-organised by Science Europe and the French National Research Agency (ANR).

The event offered a timely and much-needed forum to reflect on one of the most urgent issues facing democratic societies today: how to safeguard and rebuild trust in science in an era of rapid technological change, global crises, and accelerating mis- and disinformation. 

Public trust, as Science Europe Vice-President Javier Moreno Fuentes underlined in his opening, is “the glue that holds democratic societies together”. Yet this glue is coming undone. Trust is something we rarely think about – until it disappears. Modern societies are built on trust: it reduces transaction costs, enables complex cooperation, and allows (liberal and democratic) political systems to function. For decades, science has served as a key source of legitimacy and progress. Today, this role is increasingly contested. 

Kei Koizumi, Former Principal Deputy Director for Science, Society, and Policy in the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (Biden Administration)

In a powerful keynote, Kei Koizumi offered an alarming assessment of developments in the United States, where deliberate political interference, widespread disinformation, and eroding information integrity are undermining confidence in public institutions and, indirectly, in scientific evidence. Although general trust in science remains comparatively high, deep divides between societal groups persist and increase, and trust in policy decisions informed by scientific advice has weakened. While the Covid-19 pandemic initially seemed to demonstrate the life-saving value of science, policy responses often had the opposite effect and fuelled polarisation.

Koizumi and other speakers emphasised that trust cannot be built through dissemination of information alone: effective communication requires dialogue, transparency, and teaching a different understanding of how science works – not as a fixed set of truths, but as a process grounded in the scientific method, integrity, and clearly defined values.  

Some of the most renowned experts on trust in science in Europe further explored how fast-moving technologies – especially generative AI – may challenge traditional gatekeepers of knowledge, complicating citizens’ ability to distinguish evidence from misinformation and manipulation, how public engagement can strengthen trust in science, and the role trust in science plays at the science-policy interface.  

Many of the proposed solutions echo long-standing priorities of ALLEA: strengthening research integrity, academic freedom, independent technology research, early science education, citizen engagement, and responsible science advice. 

Inaugural Meeting of the ALLEA Task Force on Strengthening Trust in Science 

From L to R: Daniel Kaiser (ALLEA), Hedwig te Molder (KNAW), Daniela Ovadia (British Academy), Martina Feilzer (LSW), Tereza Stöckelová (Czech Academy of Sciences)

The conference provided an ideal backdrop for the first meeting of ALLEA’s newly established Task Force on Strengthening Trust in Science, held immediately afterwards. The hybrid meeting at the Bibliothèque Nacional de France brought together 17 experts from academies across Europe, representing a rich mix of disciplines, countries, and career stages, who will work closely with the ALLEA Board, the newly established Science-Policy Standing Committee, the Research Ethics and Integrity Council, and other Task Forces over the coming months.

The meeting introduced the Task Force’s purpose and set the stage for its future work. Members got to know each other and discussed the increasingly complex environment in which trust in science is shaped: the rapid spread of mis- and disinformation, the impact on evidence-informed policymaking, and the need to understand trust in science as part of broader societal dynamics. Participants stressed the importance of approaching the issue with curiosity rather than defensiveness; distrust, they noted, often stems from legitimate experiences and concerns that deserve attention. As Task Force Chair Emilija Stojmenova Duh (Global Young Academy) put it, “In a world where uncertainty is high and societal challenges are increasingly complex, trust in science has never been more important. Strengthening it is one of the most important tasks of our time, and I’m proud to contribute to this mission.” 

The Task Force will play a prominent role in European-level discussions, including ALLEA’s involvement in the European Research Area (ERA) Structural Policy on “Enhancing Trust in Science through Citizen Participation, Engagement and Science Communication”, an initiative co-led by Germany and Sweden in the ERA Forum. The group agreed to meet regularly over the coming months, with the next session scheduled for January to refine its thematic focus and establish priority areas and topic leads. 

“In a world where uncertainty is high and societal challenges are increasingly complex, trust in science has never been more important. Strengthening it is one of the most important tasks of our time, and I’m proud to contribute to this mission.” 

-Emilija Stojmenova Duh, Chair, ALLEA Task Force on Trust in Science

For ALLEA and its Member Academies, strengthening public trust in science is not a new endeavour, but it is more urgent than ever. Together, the Paris conference and the launch of ALLEA’s new Task Force mark an important step in advancing evidence-informed, socially responsive, and trustworthy science across Europe at a time when it is needed most.