European Science Foundation

Summary of the initiative

Name
European Science Foundation
Objective(s)
ESF plays a significant role in promoting the highest levels of scientific integrity and better self-regulation across Europe. At a strategic level, there is a need for more commonality in codes of good scientific practice, in the effective managing and monitoring of those standards and in developing transparent procedures for investigating allegations of scientific misconduct. Pan-European progress in these areas would improve quality assurance, strengthen the self-regulation of science and help reinforce public trust in science.
This document is superseded by the European Code of Conduct for Research Integrity.

Description of the Initiative

Obsolete case
    Sector

    Sector

    Contact Point - Commission
    RTD B7.001

    Self/Co-Regulation Basic Act

    PRIVATE ACT
    Year
    2000
    Title of Act
    Good scientific practise in research and scholarship

    Geographical Coverage

    Participating Countries
    Austria

    Description

    Problems that lead to the introduction of Self/Co-Regulation and the adoption of the Founding Act
    At a time when the need to build trust between science and society is becoming ever more important, it is vital that the conduct of science itself is based on the highest ethical considerations and that misconduct within science itself can be identified and dealt within an open and transparent manner. Several cases of misconduct have been reported over recent years from across the world. This does not mean that there is an epidemic of such cases but each one destroys trust both in the science system itself and between scientists.
    Target Group(s)
    Scientists themselves, as well as national academies and research funding agencies, universities and research institutions employing scientists.
    Type of Instrument(s)
    Code of good practice.
    Type of Financing
    -
    Type of Monitoring
    Conduct an initial survey of compliance capacity of future regulateesConduct regular visits and spot checksInitiate complaints proceduresMaintain database of those bounded by the normsProduce regular reportsReceive complaints and verify if norms were breached or notReflexive dialogue with the - stakeholdersOther
    European Commission
    National public authority
    International public authority
    Private regulator (code owner)
    Private independent party with a mandate (e.g. auditors)
    Self-appointed private parties (e.g. NGOs)
    Succinct description of the type of Monitoring
    -
    Type of Enforcement
    Faming, shaming and blamingJudicial sanctionsMembership suspension/exclusionPrivate finesOther
    Private Regulator
    Private independent party with a mandate (e.g. auditors)
    Court system
    Alternative dispute resolution (ADR) / Online dispute resolution (ODR)
    Succinct description of the type of Enforcement
    -

    Results of Commission Monitoring

    Link / Reference of Evaluation
    -

    Downloads

    SMO self- and co-regulation database - private code 79