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Research Funding and Partnerships

University of Warwick Ethical Principles for Research Funding and Partnerships

Introduction

The University of Warwick is committed to ensuring that it makes research funding and partnerships decisions responsibly and with integrity, having due regard to ethical, social, environmental and governance principles.

This document sets out the principles under which the University operates when accepting research funding or working with partners or collaborators on research projects.

These principles ensure that the University only accepts funding or engages in partnerships with companies or organisations that act in an ethical manner, and which operate in alignment with the values and culture of the University.

Our Approach

At The University of Warwick, we strive to undertake research which is internationally recognised as world class, with impact and purpose. We aim to change the world, making lives healthier, fairer, safer, more just, resilient, and enriched.

The University of Warwick is committed to advancing and safeguarding the highest academic and ethical standards in all its research activities. The University’s Research Governance and Ethics Committee has oversight of the University’s governance and ethical policies and procedures and ensures ethical conduct of research across the University through the Research Code of Practice, and the Code of Practice for the Investigation of Research Misconduct.

Our research is conducted with academic rigour and receives appropriate ethical scrutiny. All individuals acting on our behalf uphold principles and practices in accordance with our Research Code of Practice. The University works within external governance frameworks and standards of ‘best practice’, such as the Concordat to Support Research Integrity, the National Protective Security Authority’s Trusted Research framework, export controls regulations and the National Security and Investment Act.

We undertake due diligence on all proposed research projects and activities, which includes a review of the research funder or partner and any associated risks, alongside the nature of the project activity, the scope of work, and expected project outcomes. We also conduct financial due diligence checks.

The University recognises that many valuable innovations arise from research which deliver wide benefit to the public and society; however, it is mindful that certain areas of research require greater scrutiny to ensure it does not inadvertently undertake research which is unethical or negatively impacts the University.

The following principles set out our approach in respect of certain areas of research:

Whilst the above represents the ethical principles by which the University of Warwick conducts its research, it should be noted that each project is reviewed on a case-by-case basis and the University may decide to decline to conduct research in an area not listed above, where it is perceived that the research is high risk or contradicts our ethics and values.