Dutch research institutions adopt new Code of Conduct for Research Integrity

Dutch research institutions will adopt a new Code of Conduct for Research Integrity starting on 01/01/2027. It serves as the central benchmark for ethical research for researchers at Dutch universities, academic hospitals, universities of applied sciences and other research organisations and institutes.

The new code was commissioned by the national organisations for scientific research and updates the current code (from 2018) while "retaining its strengths", the Dutch Research Council (NWO) said on 20/10/2026.

The main differences are:
• the simplified standards for ethical research practices (reduced from 61 to 41) are now more focused on how scientific integrity is put into practice positively rather than on what is not permitted;
• the emphasis on shared responsibility for integrity;
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