Research Ethics and Integrity Council
The ALLEA Research Ethics and Integrity Council (REIC) serves as ALLEA’s expert body on matters of research ethics, integrity, and responsible conduct of research. Building on the long-standing work of ALLEA’s Permanent Working Group on Science and Ethics, the Council safeguards and advances ALLEA’s leadership in promoting trustworthy, ethical, and transparent research practices across Europe. It ensures that ethical reflection remains integral to scientific progress. By monitoring emerging challenges in areas such as artificial intelligence, research assessment, and academic freedom, the REIC provides strategic advice to the ALLEA Board, Member Academies, and partners, strengthening public trust in science and embedding integrity principles throughout ALLEA’s science-policy work.
Responsibilities
The ALLEA Research Ethics and Integrity Council (REIC) guides and informs ALLEA’s efforts to promote responsible research and uphold the highest standards of integrity across the European Research Area (ERA). Its main responsibilities include:
Safeguarding the European Code of Conduct
Safeguarding and updating the European Code of Conduct for Research Integrity — the reference document for all EU-funded research — to ensure its ongoing relevance.
Advising on emerging challenges
Advising on new and emerging ethical challenges arising from technological, social, and institutional developments.
Expertise for ALLEA and its members
The Council provides expertise to ALLEA’s governance bodies and Member Academies, supports ethics education and the work of ethics committees, and fosters the adoption of integrity principles within research cultures and policy frameworks.
Contributing to ALLEA’s mission
Through its analyses, reports, and outreach activities, the REIC contributes to ALLEA’s broader mission of strengthening trust in science, defending academic freedom, and embedding ethical awareness and integrity at the heart of research and innovation in Europe.