Framework to Enhance Research Integrity in Research Collaborations (2022), National Research Integrity Forum

What is this about?

The Framework to Enhance Research Integrity in Research Collaborations (2022), authored by the National Research Integrity Forum, provides guidance for Ireland-funded international research collaborations. Written in English, it formalises principles of honesty, accountability, professional courtesy, and stewardship, linking them to reproducibility, credibility, and societal trust. The framework sets out responsibilities for researchers, institutions, funders, and journals, covering good practices in planning, conducting, publishing, and reviewing collaborative research. It includes provisions on authorship, proper citation, conflict of interest management, transparency of data and methods, supervision, and peer review. Mechanisms for handling misconduct are defined, ensuring due process, fair sanctions, and opportunities for learning. Education and training are embedded to make integrity a core skill, while guidance on open science, data management, digital tools, and dissemination supports contemporary practice. Equity and diversity are emphasised as essential to inclusive, trustworthy collaborations. By aligning with international standards, the framework enhances comparability, researcher mobility, and global credibility, offering practical tools to embed integrity in daily research activities.

Why is this important?

Framework to Enhance Research Integrity in Research Collaborations distils national and international (ireland-funded research collabs) expectations for research integrity in Ireland and clarifies what researchers and institutions in International (research outside Ireland) 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 National Research Integrity Forum in 2022, 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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