State Secretary Hirayama opens Science Europe High-Level Workshop on Research Ethics and Integrity
Bern, 24.11.2022 - On 23 and 24 November, Science Europe, the association of research funding organisations, together with the State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation and the Swiss National Science Foundation hosted this year’s High-Level Workshop in Zurich. Participants included ministers, high-level delegates and heads of national research organisations from across Europe. The theme of the workshop was ‘Research ethics and scientific integrity in the context of public engagement’. Switzerland’s contribution underlined its active commitment to a strong European Research Area.
In her speech on the second day of the workshop, State Secretary Martina Hirayama commended the valuable contribution of researchers to addressing societal challenges and crises. She also emphasised the importance of holding joint discussions on research ethics and integrity as a basis for a successful public dialogue on science. In addition, she briefly met with Ukraine’s minister for education and science, Serhiy Shkarlet, on the fringes of the workshop.
The ministerial participants discussed the topic of research ethics and integrity from the perspective of how policy makers can contribute to improving the integrity of research in the context of public engagement in the European Research Area (ERA). Ms Hirayama cited current activities in Switzerland aimed at strengthening the dialogue and understanding between researchers and politicians. She also stressed that there should be a deeper discussion on the form of this dialogue in Europe. Full cooperation in the European Framework Programmes for Research and Innovation could strengthen this dialogue throughout Europe.
The results of the workshop will be presented in a report to be published by the Swiss National Science Foundation in mid-December.
European Research Area
The ERA was launched in 2000 and aims to create a single EU market for research, innovation and technology by aligning national research and innovation systems and improving cooperation between the European Union, EU member states and participating third countries.
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