Scientific Integrity

The ANR aims to fund and promote the development of fundamental and targeted research in all disciplines at national, European and international levels. It also funds technological innovation and technology transfer, partnerships between research teams from the public and private sector, and strengthens the dialogue between science and society. To this end, it provides competitive calls for proposals and develops thorough peer review-based selection processes, complying with relevant international principles: impartiality, equal treatment, confidentiality, deontology, scientific integrity, and transparency.

As part of its commitment to contributing to the deployment of a supportive framework for conducting research with integrity and responsibility, the ANR signed the French National Charter for Research Integrity in 2018, and revised its own Ethics Charter to include, in line with this commitment, scientific integrity and gender equality.

In 2023, it strengthened its Ethic, Integrity and Deontology policy, describing its principles and operational schemes in a single document intended for all research stakeholders.

Read the interview with Laurence Guyard, ANR Ethic and Scientific Integrity Officer, on the Agency’s Ethic, Scientific Integrity and Deontology Policy (in French)

Concepts

Ethic addresses scientific progress and its impacts on society. It includes a reflexive approach and provides a basis to improve the practice of research in line with contexts and issues, and guarantee the integrity and responsibility of science.

The ANR encourages scientific teams to include, in their approach, a reflection on ethical challenges that may arise from the objectives, methodology or the results expected of their project and their applications.

Scientific integrity refers to all the rules and values governing the research activity to ensure honesty and scientific accuracy. Its rules and values cannot be set in stone, but rather be subject to constant reflexivity and development in light of new knowledge and technological advances.

Researchers are solely responsible for learning about best practices in their fields and rigorously apply them when conducting their research.

Deontology corresponds to all the rules and obligations for exercising a profession. Those stated in the ANR’s Charter govern the pursuit of the Agency’s missions, to which its international or external staff are committed. They must comply with this code of conduct.

The ANR verifies personal connections throughout the evaluation process. The scientists involved in the evaluation undertake to ensure that the information and documents brought to their attention remain confidential, and declare all conflicts of interests.

The role played by the ANR Scientific Integrity and Deontology Officer (RIS)

In conjunction with the Mandon circular and Corvol report, a Scientific Integrity Officer (RIS) was appointed in 2018. Its role has been ratified in the aforementioned Order of 03 December 2021, which required the institutions involved to appoint an RIS.

The ANR’s Scientific Integrity and Deontology Officer, and its Policy Officer are responsible for:

• Complying with fundamental principles,
• Receiving reports,
• Investigating the presumed scientific integrity violations brought to its attention,
• The prevention and proper management of conflicts of interests,
• Training the Agency’s internal and external staff.

Laurence Guyard, Head of Scientific Community Relations, Scientific Integrity and Deontology Officer, Gender Equality Officer.

Fanny Lachat, Scientific Integrity and Deontology Policy Officer

For more information:

The ANR’s Ethics and Scientific Integrity Charter

The single document on “ANR Policies on Ethic, Scientific Integrity and Deontology. Operational principles and procedures”

Confidentiality Undertaking Form (in French)

Declaration of Interests Form (in French)

French Office for Research Integrity Website