Dutch research institutions will adopt a new Code of Conduct for Research Integrity from 1 January 2027. Jeroen de Ridder, Professor of Philosophy and Vice-Dean for Research at the Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, chaired the committee that revised the 2018 code. The new code builds on the strengths of the existing version and has been developed by the research sector itself, reflecting its responsibility for safeguarding research integrity.
The five core principles — honesty, scrupulousness, transparency, independence and responsibility — remain unchanged. The standards for good research practice have been simplified, with the number reduced from 61 to 41, and now focus more strongly on how research integrity can be actively promoted rather than simply on what researchers should not do. The new code also places greater emphasis on shared responsibility for research integrity and expands institutions’ duty of care. The explanation of the complaints procedure has also been improved.
A basis for trust
The NGWI is the main framework for research integrity for researchers at Dutch universities, university medical centres, universities of applied sciences and other research institutions and institutes. Research integrity enables researchers to trust and build on each other’s findings. It also underpins public trust in research and its impact on society.
Across the full breadth of research
The code applies to all forms of research and all disciplines, from fundamental research to applied and practice-based research, and to both publicly and privately funded research. It covers every stage of the research process, from design and implementation to reporting, peer review and communication. Researchers are also expected to follow the principles and standards set out in the code when using technologies such as AI.
A healthy research culture
The code states that institutions are responsible for creating a working environment that promotes and safeguards good research practice. They therefore have a duty of care to embed research integrity in their organisation and policies. Governing bodies and managers are expected to actively promote the standards and principles set out in the code, while research integrity should be a recurring topic of discussion in day-to-day work and at all levels of the organisation.
Suspected breaches of research integrity should be investigated carefully through an established complaints procedure. The code provides guidance for governing bodies, researchers and other parties involved, and sets out the types of measures that may be taken when the code is found not to have been followed.
Organisations behind the code
The code is endorsed by UNL, UMCNL, NWO, the TO2 Federation, VH and KNAW. These organisations commissioned a broadly composed committee to revise the code. Jeroen de Ridder, Professor of Philosophy and Vice-Dean for Research at the Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, chaired the committee.
According to De Ridder, an up-to-date code is particularly important at this moment: “At a time when public trust in science is under pressure in some quarters and the rapid development of AI is permeating every area of research, research integrity must remain a top priority. The revised code emphasises that this is a shared responsibility of researchers, teams, managers and institutions. Research integrity must be embedded in everyday practice and in academic culture.”
Full report: Netherlands Code of Conduct for Research Integrity 2027