The Finnish Code of Conduct for Research Integrity and Procedures for Handling Alleged Violations of Research Integrity in Finland (2023), Finnish National Board on Research Integrity TENK

What is this about?

The Finnish Code of Conduct for Research Integrity and Procedures for Handling Alleged Violations of Research Integrity in Finland (2023), authored by the Finnish National Board on Research Integrity (TENK), provides a national framework to promote responsible conduct of research. It formalises core principles of honesty, accountability, professional courtesy, and stewardship, linking them to reproducibility, credibility, and societal trust. The code defines responsibilities for researchers, institutions, funders, and journals, addressing good practices in planning, conducting, publishing, and reviewing research. It outlines provisions on authorship, citation, conflict of interest management, transparency, supervision, and peer review, while establishing clear procedures for investigating misconduct that ensure fairness, proportional sanctions, and learning opportunities. Education and training are embedded, alongside guidance on emerging issues such as open science, digital tools, and data management. Equity and diversity are emphasised as essential for credible research environments. By aligning with international standards, the code reinforces global comparability and supports mobility of researchers.

Why is this important?

The Finnish Code of Conduct for Research Integrity and Procedures for Handling Alleged Violations of Research Integrity in Finland distils national expectations for research integrity in Finland and clarifies what researchers and institutions in Finland need to do to comply. It reduces ambiguity, aligns local practice with international norms, and offers actionable steps that improve transparency, reproducibility, and equitable access. For policy leads, it is a benchmark; for authors and administrators, it is a practical checklist. Published by Finnish National Board on Research Integrity TENK in 2023, it is a credible reference to cite in institutional policies, training, and grant documentation.

For whom is this important?

All stakeholders in research

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