Ethical issues within RD&I projects
The four ethical pillars guiding RD&I projects:
- Adherence to the principles underpinning professional ethics and scientific integrity
- Compliance with the international, European and Belgian legal framework
- Proactive consideration of ethical issues
Ethical monitoring through a duty to provide information and keep abreast of developments
These four pillars thus form a coherent framework: the first two (professional ethics and the legal framework) lay down the fundamental rules, the third (proactive reflection) involves a forward-looking approach, and the fourth (information and monitoring) ensures the continuity and adaptability of the ethical approach over time.
PILLAR 1: Professional ethics and scientific integrity
All R&D&I projects must adhere to the principles of scientific ethics and integrity: rigour, caution, reliability, verifiability, independence and impartiality.
Ethics and scientific integrity guarantee the quality of research and the reliability of its results.
They strengthen the public’s trust in science
They uphold the legitimacy of research institutions.
They provide a solid foundation for political and governmental decisions
For further guidance, please consult the Code of Ethics for Scientific Research in Belgium.
PILLAR 2: Compliance with the legal framework
It is the responsibility of project leaders to conduct their activities in strict compliance with the national, European and international legal frameworks applicable to research, development and innovation.
Legal compliance is an essential prerequisite for eligibility for funding. We encourage you to anticipate and incorporate these considerations from the design phase of your project, as these legal requirements can be time-consuming and may require specific expertise on your part.
To assist you with your ethical self-assessment, please consult the European Commission’s official guide.
PILLAR 3: Ethical issues
Proactive consideration of the ethical issues inherent in any R&D&I project is necessary.
What are the main ethical issues identified both in terms of research and/or development and in the intended use of the new product or service?
How might the identified ethical issues negatively impact research and/or development, as well as the intended use of the new product or service?
What strategies are being implemented to mitigate potential negative impacts and manage major ethical risks?
To guide you through this reflective process from the design phase of your project, Innoviris has published a guide entitled ‘Ethical issues in R&I projects’.
PILLAR 4: Ethical monitoring
Project leaders actively and continuously monitor developments in the ethical, regulatory and societal framework applicable to their work. To support this approach, documentation is made available on certain key topics and is intended to be collectively expanded as projects progress and needs are identified.
An evolving and non-exhaustive list of available documentation
Alternatives to animal testing
In accordance with the 3Rs principle (Replace, Reduce, Refine), Innoviris supports the use of alternative methods to animal testing.
To find out more about alternatives to animal testing, please consult the database created by the RE-Place project in Belgium. This open-access platform brings together expertise relevant to alternative methods to animal testing.
Responsable Research and Innovation – RRI
The RRI Tools programme, supported by the “la Caixa” Foundation and the European Commission, provides practical resources for integrating Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI) into scientific projects. It helps researchers and institutions to take into account the ethical, societal and participatory dimensions of research, for a more open science that is connected to society.