On March 12-13, the Head of the Ukrainian Research Integrity Office, Artem Artyukhov, took part in the meeting of national contact points and stakeholders involved in the ERA Policy Action on Ethics and Research Integrity, held at the European Commission in Brussels.
The meeting brought together representatives from across Europe to discuss current approaches to research ethics and integrity, as well as the role of these principles in strengthening trustworthy science, responsible innovation, and public confidence in research. The discussions confirmed that ethics and integrity should be regarded not as secondary or formal requirements, but as fundamental conditions for the sustainable development of contemporary research systems.
A particularly valuable aspect of the meeting was the diversity of national perspectives presented by participants. Despite differences in governance models, institutional traditions, and current challenges, the discussions demonstrated a common European commitment to building stronger cultures of ethics and integrity in everyday research practice. The event also highlighted the importance of mutual learning, coordination, and practical support at the European level.
The meeting provided an opportunity to engage with a wide range of important initiatives and organisations already active in this field, including EUREC Office – European Network of Research Ethics Committees, ENRIO European Network of Research Integrity Offices, European Network for Academic Integrity, ALLEA – The European Federation of Academies of Sciences and Humanities, Science Europe, EARMA, The Embassy of Good Science. Particular attention was also given to several Horizon Europe projects, such as SIMPLIFY, CHANGER, and AIOLIA, which contribute to the development of practical tools, training formats, and collaborative platforms for integrating ethics and integrity into research practice. The overall direction of the discussions was clear: European cooperation in this area is increasingly moving from general declarations to concrete support mechanisms that help institutions and researchers embed ethics and integrity more naturally into their daily academic work. Participation in such meetings is an important opportunity for Ukraine to remain actively involved in shaping the European agenda in this field and to strengthen international cooperation.
