ERC issues misconduct strategy

The European Research Council has issued a strategy for dealing with research misconduct—but observers say that its implementation will require coordination with existing European Commission rules, which may prove to be a problem.

The concise ERC Scientific Misconduct Strategy places responsibility for action on researchers’ host institutions but goes on to say the ERC will follow up cases involving its applicants or projects, emphasising that confidentiality will be upheld while allegations are assessed. Actions the agency could take during the assessment include referring cases to the European anti-fraud office (OLAF) and holding a hearing. Offenders face possible exclusion from proposal evaluation and termination of funding.