Legal aspects and impacts of globalization

Deliverable 3.1: A report on the legal frameworks that guide or constrain ethical procedures within research in the EU

Task Leader: HELSINSKA FUNDACJA PRAW CZLOWIEKA

Legal frameworks that guide or constrain ethical procedures within research in the EU
This deliverable comprises a report on the legal frameworks that guide or constrain ethical procedures within research within the EU. It contains two major parts. Part one provides an examination of the legal and regulatory framework in the EU and 8 countries (Austria, Germany, France, Poland, Spain, Serbia, UK and the Netherlands).

Task Leader: UNIVERSITEIT TWENTE

International differences in ethical standards and in the interpretation of legal frameworks
In this report, the focus is on differences between countries in values and in the interpretation of international legal and regulatory frameworks. The overall aim is to investigate what these differences are and what they may mean for the prospects of international harmonisation of ethics assessment of research and innovation. The report consists of two main parts. In part I, Differences in Value Systems in Europe and the World, a comparative study is undertaken of values and value systems that prevail in different countries and regions in the world, with special emphasis on EU countries. The emphasis is on moral values. It is then investigated what implications the comparative analysis has for the harmonisation of ethics assessment across the EU and across the world. There may be implications for the kinds of ethical principles and standards that are used in ethics assessment, as well as for the way in which ethics assessment is organised. This study is possibly unique as an empirically based, comparative analysis of moral values and principles across the world.

Task Leader: UNESCO

A Report on How Globalisation Is Changing Research Agendas, Activities and Assessment Procedures within Research & Innovation
This deliverable comprises a report on the ethical considerations of globalisation on research and innovation. The first part of the report contains a literature review on globalisation in research and innovation; a review of ethical issues arising from the globalisation of research and innovation; and a review of policies and actions to mitigate the undesirable and unethical consequences of the globalisation of research and innovation. The second part provides a closer examination of globalisation within research an innovation through six case studies: Responsible Supply Chain; Scientific Misconduct; Indigenous Knowledge; Outsourcing of CO2 Emissions; Clinical Research & Trials and Brain-Drain. Each case study includes a preliminary review of the effects of globalisation within the theme and the corresponding ethical considerations. Interviews were then conducted with stakeholders to further illustrate findings of the review by focusing on specific incidents, actions, or policies involving the stakeholder within the respective theme.

Task Leader: UNESCO

Responsible and Ethical Governance of Research and Innovation in the Context of Globalization
In June 2015, consortium partners, leading authorities and experts met at a conference at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris to deliberate on the project’s findings so far and to develop policy and legal options for developing ethics assessments for research and innovation within the context of globalisation and concerning: Responsible supply chain, scientific misconduct, traditional and indigenous knowledge, The outsourcing of CO2 omissions, Brain drain, and clinical and research trials. Recommendations from the conference are presented in the report 3.4.