Hopp til hovedinnhold

Ethical advice on international collaboration in research

Publisert: 28.11.2025

This resource gives you ethical advice on international collaboration in research, categorized into nine areas. Each advice points to relevant research ethical guidelines.

Developed by The National Committee for Research Ethics in Science and Technology (NENT), with quality control from NESH, GRU, and SKJ regarding the identification of documents relevant to their areas of expertise.

Research is international and collaborative. At the same time, the conditions for international collaboration in research are challenging, complex, and often characterized by rapid and unexpected transitions. In the current global situation, it is crucial that we do not lose track of what are the values at stake – the basic norms that should guide research.

Do you have feedback?

This is the 1.0 version of a living document, which means NENT will routinely go through the resource at least twice yearly with a view to updates. In order to ensure that this resource is up to date, relevant, and practical, we encourage the research community to contribute their ideas on how to improve it.

thomas.osterhaug@forskningsetikk.no

This resource is a point of access to research ethical guidelines and other documents relevant for international collaboration in research, both from the National Research Ethics Committees in Norway and from other sources. It is developed for researchers, research performing institutions and funders. 

This is not a new set of guidelines, but a resource to help users identify the relevant guidelines and other documents. The resource is not exhaustive, nor should it be used as a checklist. The advice and guidelines should always be adapted to your specific situation.

1. Proposal

1.1 Make a thorough ethical evaluation/assessment and a plan on how to handle potential ethical challenges

Today we are constantly experiencing how geopolitical tensions challenge fundamental values such as openness (transparency) and responsible research, which means that early ethical assessment is important and decisive.

Relevant documents:

Target groups:

  • Researchers. Have primary responsibility for integrating ethical assessments and an ethical action plan in the project proposal.
  • Research institutions. Must ensure that researchers have access to guidance, templates and tools for ethical evaluation of proposals. Presupposes that the institutions have policies and practices that meet national and international standards for responsible research.
  • Funders. Should require clear and thorough ethical assessments and plans as an integral part of the project proposal process
1.2 Clarify the roles and responsibilities of the partners (incl. handling of IPR and publishing rights)

It is important to have a plan and clarify this early on to avoid conflicts and misunderstandings later in the project.

Relevant documents:

Target groups:

  • Researchers. Should initiate discussions and try early to reach agreements on IPR and publication rights with international partners before proposals are submitted.
  • Research institutions. Should ensure that researchers working with proposals are given legal advice and have access to standardized agreements for international collaboration.
  • Funders. May consider offering guidance, templates or similar for IPR and publishing in international projects.

2. Funding

2.1 Make an ethical and security assessment of the funder and the consequences for the project.

Geopolitical tensions and research security challenge fundamental values such as openness and research integrity. It is necessary to assess the funder, especially in countries where there are concerns about academic freedom, human rights or national security.

Relevant documents

Target groups

  • Researchers. Responsible for conducting a thorough assessment of potential funders.
  • Research institutions. Should have guidelines and tools for risk assessment for funding from international sources, with emphasis on ethics, integrity and security. Should have contact points or internal expertise to do such assessments.
  • Funders. Should integrate ethical end safety assessments of funders as part of the application process and guide researchers and institutions.
2.2 Consider what the funding of the project implies, especially if a funder has special objectives (e.g. military)

It is important to understand the intentions behind the funding beyond the research goals. Conclude on relevant measures if there is a risk of undesirable implications.

Relevant documents:

Target groups

  • Researchers. Should seek information on the funder, the funders strategic goals and potential objectives that go beyond the specific research questions, and consider whether the conditions of the funding is acceptable.
  • Research institutions. Must have procedures in place to assess the strategic rationale for the funding, especially for government or industry actors with “security agendas”, including dual-use-assessments. Must ensure that all agreements are ethically responsible
  • Funders. Must have full transparency about strategic priorities and must consider ethical guidelines for funding research with potential societal or military implications.
2.3 Ensure full transparency on funding sources in all parts of the project and in all publication channels

Transparency about funding is a basic research ethics norm that ensures trustworthiness and help avoid hidden conflicts of interest. 

Relevant documents:

Target groups:

  • Researchers. Must always be open about all sources of funding in applications, publications, presentations and other relevant reports and channels for dissemination.
  • Research institutions. Must have clear guidelines for reporting of funding. Are responsible for promoting a good research culture with openness and integrity.
  • Funders. Should have requirements of complete transparency of all sources of funding in applications and reporting.

3. Data

3.1 Make clear agreements on ownership, storage, handling and sharing of data from the start of the project

This is crucial for ensuring compliance with data protection regulations, research ethics and good scientific practice, and for avoiding future conflicts. It is important to identify legal frameworks and differences in legislation, and familiarize oneself with them.

Relevant documents:

Target groups

  • Researchers. Must develop a data management plan in collaboration with the international partners, specifying data collection, storage, access, security, sharing, and archiving. 
  • Research institutions. Must provide infrastructure, guidance and legal support for safe and ethical data management in international collaboration. Must ensure that researchers have sufficient knowledge on data management.
  • Funders. Must require robust and transparent DMPs in applications. Use FAIR as a guiding principle.
3.2 Consider the transfer of sensitive data across borders

Make sure there is no risk of personal data being shared in unethical or illegal ways. This is especially important in collaborations with researchers from countries with less robust data protection regulation, weaker rule of law or challenges to academic freedom. This is an area with high risk of breaches of privacy, ethics and research safety.

Relevant documents

Target groups

  • Researchers. Should identify and assess the risks of data transfer to specific countries, assess alternative solutions (e.g. secure analysis in Norway or anonymisation), and ensure that licences, data transfer agreements and measures of security are in place.
  • Research institutions. Should have guidelines and tools for data related risk assessment, provide legal guidance on data transfer and offer platforms for secure data storage and analysis.
  • Funders. Should develop guidance and support resources for safe and ethically responsible data transfer in international collaborations in accordance with national expectations and requirements.

4. Methods

4.1 Discuss which methods to use and address the limitations

Social, cultural, and political differences affect research practices. The methods used must be professionally responsible and verifiable. Choice of methods must not be influenced by non-scientific considerations.

Relevant documents

Target groups

  • Researchers. Choose the methods that are best suited to provide insight into the problem in question, that are recognized in the research community and that provide reliable results. Be open about the limitations of the method.
  • Research institutions. Support researchers 
  • Funders. Acknowledge that the researchers have the overall responsibility for the choice of method.
4.2 Ensure that the methods chosen do not put people, animals or the environment at unnecessary risk

It is an ethical obligation to diminish the negative consequences of the research for people, animals, and nature. It is not ethically justifiable to move parts of the research to other countries because of lower ethical or safety standards.

Relevant documents

Target groups

  • Researchers. Must minimise the risk of adverse effects on people, animals, and nature.
  • Research institutions. Should support and facilitate the researchers’ assessments.
  • Funders. Should set requirements for researchers and insitutions receiving funding.
4.3 Consider cultural contexts

Social, cultural, and political differences affect research practices. It is important to consider different contexts in the participating countries. 

Relevant documents

Target groups

  • Researchers. Should discuss potential controversial parts of the project.
  • Research institutions. Should support and facilitate the researchers’ assessments.
  • Funders. Should set requirements for researchers and insitutions receiving funding.

5. Recruitment

5.1 Discuss how to ensure fair recruitment of researchers in the project

Recruitment and career development is important for research projects. Agree on criteria for employment, ensuring diversity, equity and inclusion. Conduct a risk assessment. Discuss arrangements regarding career development for those involved in the project.

Relevant documents

Target groups

  • Researchers. Should develop plans for fair recruitment and develop a non-discriminatory culture
  • Research institutions. Should have guidelines for fair recruitment of researchers.
  • Funders. Should include fair recruitment in their assessment.
5.2 Discuss how to ensure fair selection of research participants, without discrimination and oppression

Ensure fair selection, without discrimination and oppression. It is important to be aware of power relations and vulnerability, to have awareness of cultural norms in the informed consent, and to make local adaptations.

Relevant documents

Target groups

  • Researchers. Should ensure fair recruitment of participants.
  • Research institutions. Should have guidelines and support.
  • Funders. Should include fair recruitment in their assessment

6. Project implementation

6.1 Decide who from each country/legal zone is responsible for identifying the relevant legal and research ethical documents

International collaboration implies differences in legislation and regulations. The person designated as responsible in each country should also inform the others about the relevant documents. 

Relevant documents

Target groups

  • Researchers. Identify relevant legislation and ethical frameworks.
  • Research institutions. Support researchers in keeping track of relevant legislation.
  • Funders. Require that researchers funded observe ethical and legal requirements in every country involved.
6.2 Agree on responsibilities for arranging/contributing to conferences or workshops during the project

Conferences and workshops are important arenas for discussing and developing the research.

Relevant documents

Target groups

  • Researchers. Should prioritize arenas for discussing the research.
  • Research institutions. Should support projects in the arranging of conferences. 
  • Funders. Should fund conferences and workshops.
6.3 Develop a plan for how to handle unforeseen changes in the project

Develop a general approach for when non-compliance with agreed-upon plans should make you come up with an alternative plan for each activity. Agree on who takes over the responsibility for each milestone or deliverable, if the designated person(s) should be unable or unwilling to do so for reasons not integral to the project. Develop a plan for who steps in, and/or who is responsible for securing a process to ensure that someone does, if other crucial activities that are part of the collaboration, such as advising PhD candidates, are not carried out. Have a plan for how to handle external pressure that could compromise the research.

Relevant documents

Target groups

  • Researchers. Should develop and follow the plan.
  • Research institutions. Must ensure the rights of project members, such as PhD candidates, and support against external pressure.
6.4 Agree on how to prioritize between the various activities/initiatives if funding should disappear

Costs and rewards should be fairly distributed. It is especially important to agree on how to manage this for temporary employees. 

Relevant documents

Target groups

  • Researchers. Develop and follow the agreement.
  • Research institutions. Must ensure the rights of project members, such as PhD candidates.
6.5 Assess the risk that partners may wish to withhold results

Openness in research is important for ensuring scientific quality and fostering society’s trust in research and research results. Research results should be as open as possible. Results of the research should benefit humankind.  

Relevant documents

Target groups

  • Researchers. Assess the partners. 
  • Research institutions. Should support the researchers in publishing results.
  • Funders. Should encourage openness.
6.6 Inform all partners on how to respond to suspicions of research misconduct within the project

It is important to have clear guidelines for handling of suspicions of misconduct, including how and where cases should be handled.

Relevant documents

Target groups

  • Researchers. Should agree on which guidelines to follow.
  • Research institutions. Should have appropriate guidelines for the handling of misconduct cases.
  • Funders. Should require appropriate mechanisms.

7. Impact

7.1 Consider whether the results of your research are of such a nature as to be used in harmful ways (cf dual use)

If there is a risk of harmful use, take appropriate steps to avoid such unwanted consequences for each participating institution/country.

Relevant documents

Target groups

  • Researchers. Assess potential risk.
  • Research institutions. Ensure that risk assessment is carried out.
  • Funders. Require proper risk assessments in applications.
7.2 Assess the research’s potential harm to the environment

Research and technology development may have far-reaching consequences for health, society, and the environment. 

Relevant documents

Target groups

  • Researchers. Assess potential harm.
  • Research institutions. Ensure that risk assessment is carried out.
  • Funders. Require proper risk assessments in applications.
7.3 Make sure your project does not risk any breach regarding export control, whether for Norway or for any other participating countries

The purpose of the export control regulations is to limit the development of weapons of mass destruction. Export control regulations also apply to the transfer of knowledge 

Relevant documents

Target groups

  • Researchers. Assess potential collaboration partners.
  • Research institutions. Must have knowledge about regulations and licences, and offer support and risk assessments.
  • Funders. Require proper assessments in applications.
7.4 Discuss how to ensure that participants and communities get access to results and benefits from the research

Results and benefits of the research should be distributed fairly. Researchers have a responsibility to contribute to an open, nuanced, and informed public discourse.

Relevant documents

Target groups

  • Researchers. Agree on a plan.
  • Research institutions. Facilitate fair distribution.
  • Funders. Require proper plans in applications and fund communication of results.
7.5 Make a plan for the dissemination of results, especially in relation to potential politicization or misuse of the results and the safety of the partners

Disseminating research to a broader audience beyond the research community is a social responsibility. However, the dissemination of research can be challenging in certain contexts.

Relevant documents

Target groups

  • Researchers. Should prioritize dissemination, and assess potential risks.
  • Research institutions. Should provide support in cases in which researchers are exposed to inappropriate reactions based on their research dissemination
  • Funders. Should encourage dissemination of research funded.

8. Publishing

8.1 Agree on format and relevant journals, open access, publication costs, preprint publishing etc.

Research should be made available. Be aware of predatory publishers, fake peer review etc.

Relevant documents

Target groups

  • Researchers. Select the most appropriate format and journals.
  • Research institutions. Help researchers keep track of approved publication channels.
  • Funders. Contribute to systems for assessing journals.
8.2 Agree on a timeline for the writing process and who does what

The timeline and plans could change because of developments in the project. Agree on procedures for such situations.

Relevant documents

Target groups

  • Researchers. Should develop, follow and update plans.
  • Research institutions. Support researchers, e.g. with templates and procedures.
8.3 Agree in advance on how to handle revisions

This could for instance be if the journal asks for new experiments or more data or other changes in the manuscript.

Relevant documents

Target groups

  • Researchers. Should agree on plans for handling revisions.
  • Research institutions. Should support researchers in their work.
8.4 Agree on the use of news channels or social media to announce the research findings

This also applies to other forms of dissemination to a broader public.

Relevant documents

Target groups

  • Researchers. Should give dissemination a high priority.
  • Research institutions. Should encourage dissemination of research results.
  • Funders. Should require dissemination of research results in projects receiving funding.

9. Co-authorship

9.1 Agree on authorship and roles (first and last authorship, corresponding author etc.)

Clarify individual responsibilities within collaborations and a framework for co-authorship. 

Relevant documents

Target groups

  • Researchers. Must observe good publication practices in their field. Project managers have a particular responsibility. Supervisors must ensure that the interests of students/candidates are safeguarded.
  • Research institutions. Must ensure that recognised norms for authorship and collaboration are complied with.
  • Funders. Require that researchers follow recognised norms.
9.2 Develop a contingency plan if someone fails to contribute as planned

Research projects develop over time, tasks and responsibilities can change and sometimes are unable to deliver as planned. It is important to have contingency plans and to update plans if needed.

Relevant documents

Target groups

  • Researchers. Ensure that plans are developed, followed and upated.
  • Research institutions. Support researchers, e.g. with templates and procedures.