Societal Trust In Science, Research and Innovation (RFOs)-Policy Brief

Related Initiative

What is this about?

This policy brief, produced under the Horizon WIDERA call on “Societal trust in science, research and innovation”, offers recommendations targeted at research funding organisations (RFOs), research performing organisations, higher education institutions and other actors in the innovation ecosystem. It highlights that public trust in science depends not only on the quality of research but on principles such as integrity, transparency and alignment with societal values.

The brief points to challenges undermining trust for example, poor reproducibility, weak stakeholder involvement, non-publication of negative results, overlooked methodology limitations and weak alignment with citizen needs. It sets out policy options and good practices for RFOs to promote co-creation of research with society, robust governance of research integrity, improved dissemination of data and results, and to monitor and evaluate trust impacts.

Why is this important?

This policy brief is important because societal trust in science is a cornerstone for adopting innovation, securing public investment in research, and achieving Europe’s strategic objectives (e.g., the European Green Deal, Sustainable Development Goals). By guiding RFOs and research institutions to embed integrity, transparency, stakeholder engagement and relevance into research systems, the brief helps address underlying causes of mistrust not just symptoms. Moreover, by recommending measures at the funding-system level, it holds leverage for systemic change rather than isolated interventions. This means outcomes such as better reproducibility, more inclusive research agendas, and stronger two-way science-society relationships are more likely all of which contribute to enhancing the credibility and social licence of science.

For whom is this important?

ResearchersResearch Funding Organisations (RFOs)Research Institutions and UniversitiesPolicy Makers and Science Governance BodiesCivil Society and Citizens

Other information