We are pleased to announce the launch of the 2025 refreshed Concordat to Support Research Integrity following detailed review and consultation across the sector by the Research Integrity Concordat Signatories (RICS) Group.
Now hosted by the UK Committee on Research Integrity, the Concordat has provided a vital national framework and reference document for practice and governance of research integrity in the UK since 2012, and the review aimed to ensure that it retained its relevance and application in today’s fast-moving environment.
Alongside the refreshed Concordat, is the review of the Concordat document summarising the consultation undertaken and the changes that were made in response. The Concordat is being launched now, but organisations have until April 2026 to adhere to the new expectations, including those related to annual statements.
Organisations are encouraged to use the existing annual statement reporting template. The basic structure and requirements of the Concordat are unchanged, structured around five commitments, the first of which sets out the core principles of:
- honesty
- rigour
- transparency and open communication
- care and respect
- accountability
The RICS Group would like to thank the sector for taking part in the consultation (online survey and workshops) to revise the Concordat. Thank you for providing rich information on your experience of using the Concordat, your insight on how it has impacted your organisation, and how it could be revised to better support high integrity across the system.
2019 version
The Concordat to Support Research Integrity, published on 25 October 2019, was an updated version of the first concordat published in 2012. The Concordat responds to recommendations set out in the House of Commons Science and Technology Committee’s report on research integrity, published in July 2018. This remains valid until 1 April 2026, by which date organisations should follow the revised 2025 version.
About the Concordat
The Concordat to Support Research Integrity, otherwise known as the Research Integrity Concordat, aims to provide a national framework for good research conduct and its governance. It supports government, business, international partners and the public to continue to have confidence in UK research and its world-leading researchers.
The Concordat asks universities, research institutes and individual researchers to commit to ensuring their work is underpinned by the highest standards of rigour and integrity.
The RICS Group provides a strategic steering function and is currently made up of:
- Cancer Research UK
- Department for the Economy, Northern Ireland
- GuildHE Research
- Medr – The Commission for Tertiary Education and Research
- National Institute for Health Research
- Scottish Funding Council
- The British Academy
- UK Research and Innovation
- Universities UK
- Wellcome Trust
Secretariat support is now provided by the UK Committee on Research Integrity, following transition from Universities UK.
The RICS Group are committed to working together to promote and support:
- the highest standards of rigour and integrity in all aspects of research
- research being conducted according to appropriate ethical, legal and professional frameworks, obligations and standards
- a research environment that is underpinned by a culture of integrity and based on good governance, best practice, and support for the development of researchers
- the use of transparent, timely, robust and fair processes to deal with allegations of research misconduct should they arise
- strengthening the integrity of research and reviewing progress regularly and openly
- collaboration with other groups and parties to strengthen the implementation of the Concordat
Template: annual statement on research integrity
Produced on behalf of the Research Integrity Concordat Signatories Group by the UK Research Integrity Office (UKRIO), the template provides guidance on how to complete an annual statement for the Concordat to Support Research Integrity. The template is intended to be flexible for use across different disciplines and size of organisation. Some organisations may be able to complete the statement more fully than others. All organisations are asked to use the boxes as it enables a sector-wide analysis to identify trends in policies and practice. Its use is not mandatory but encouraged to allow consistent sector-wide analysis.
Annual statement content
Annual statements should:
- publicly demonstrate a commitment to high quality and ethical research, by declaring the practical measures undertaken to enhance research integrity
- reflect on successes and consider areas for improvement to help themselves and the sector continuously improve over time
- provide research funders with assurance information in an ‘ask once’ statement that is publicly available. This aims to reduce bureaucracy for organisations and to help meet funders’ terms and conditions
- be approved and published on the organisation’s website alongside previous annual statements, and/or alongside relevant policies relating to research integrity
If you have difficulty accessing the template, or would like to give feedback on it, please contact riconcordat@ukcori.org.
Template annual statement on research integrity
Template annual statement on research integrity
Summary of activities from the Research Integrity Concordat Signatories Group
In 2022 and 2023, the RICS group published annual statements providing a summary of their activities.
Annual statement 2023
Annual statement 2022
Get in touch
If you have any questions about the Concordat to Support Research Integrity, please email: riconcordat@ukcori.org
These resources continue to be available on the Universities UK website.