Ethics horizons >> Which ethical aspects apply in the EU Research Framework Programme?
FFG EU Networking Event on "Managing ethics in Europe and in Austria"
EU Networking at FFG with Marjo Rauhala (TU Wien), Andrea Hoffmann (FFG), Christiane Druml (Austrian Bioethics Commission), Isidoros Karatzas (European Commission), Nicole Föger (Austrian Agency for Research Integrity) and Jeannette Klonk (FFG).
"Managing ethics in Europe and in Austria" was the focus of today's FFG EU Networking Event at the "Haus der Forschung" in Vienna, which was attended by around one hundred interested participants. On behalf of the Austrian Research Promotion Agency FFG, Andrea Hoffmann and Jeannette Klonk from the European and International Programmes Division welcomed Isidoros Karatzas. The head of the department "Ethics and Research Integrity" in the Directorate-General for Research and Innovation (European Commission) addressed ethics aspects of the current EU Framework Programme "Horizon 2020" and also offered an outlook on this increasingly relevant area in the follow-up programme "Horizon Europe" (2021 - 2027). Christiane Druml, Chair of the Austrian Bioethics Commission, reported on the current situation in Austria. The following discussion with Isidoros Karatzas, Christiane Druml, Marjo Rauhala (TU Wien - Vienna University of Technology) and Nicole Föger (Austrian Agency for Research Integrity) focused in particular on the requirements on national level with regard to research ethics and research integrity.
In the EU Framework Programme for Research and Innovation "Horizon 2020", ethical aspects play a central role in all project phases: from planning to application, implementation and completion. All research projects that reach the "threshold" in the evaluation are reviewed by experts from an ethical point of view. Recommendations and improvements are made on the basis of this review. In this respect, the FFG experts also provide researchers and companies with information and advice. As the National Contact Point for "Horizon 2020", it is a central task of the FFG to support the applicants with regard to legal and ethical aspects in research projects. A careful consideration of ethical issues is essential and will improve the impact of research projects.