Research culture is a broad topic. It can encompass the behavious, values, expectations, attitudes, and norms of research systems (Royal Society, 2018).
For research funding and research performing organisations, research cultures represent the link between policies and practices, and the attitudes, behaviours, and daily activities of researchers and research professionals.
Science Europe is committed to advancing actions on research cultures, both in Europe and globally, to create the best possible ecosystem, in which talented individuals can thrive and research quality and knowledge advancement are optimally supported.
In the European Research Area (ERA), and globally, there are a diversity of approaches to research cultures that influence the way that research is governed, funded, performed, and communicated. These impact the career pathways of all research professionals, as well as the orientation of research themes and priorities. Importantly, the culture that pervades any given research system influences the quality of its outputs and outcomes.
The topic of research culture offers an opportunity to reflect on the links between the processes and policies that govern research systems on one hand, and the practices and attitudes of those that are involved in the research endeavour on the other. A holistic view is needed when considering policy reforms to areas such as Research Assessment Systems, Open Science, and Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion, that acknowledges the interconnected nature of these key themes.
Research culture touches upon the core business of Science Europe’s Member Organisations as it is linked to the quality of research, the contribution of science to knowledge advancement, the role of science in and for society, and the sustainability of research systems as a whole. Science Europe and its Member Organisations use the concept of shared values to design and implement actions to enable positive cultures that foster sustainable research ecosystems where research and researchers thrive.
Science Europe launches a framework of shared values that serve as a guide to contribute to fostering a forward-looking research culture within the European Research Area, and globally.
In 2025, Science Europe presented a Vision and Framework for Research Cultures, synthesising our work to date across numerous policy topics, focussing them on the shared objective of R&I systems to advance knowledge and enable the quality and impact of research.
Continuing our support for the evolution of research cultures in Europe and beyond, Science Europe aims to:
The Science Europe holistic approach to research cultures, as highlighted in our 2025 Vision and Framework for Research Cultures, will help implement specific actions in the areas above to improve the overall conditions for research activity and for researchers.
Science Europe presents ‘A Vision and Framework for Research Cultures’. It synthesises our recent work across numerous policy topics focussing them on the shared objective of R&I systems to advance knowledge and enable the quality and impact of research.
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As part of the upcoming EU High-Level Conference on Reforming Research Assessment (CERRA2025) on 3-4 December in Copenhagen, CoARA invites its community and interested parties attending the conference in Copenhagen to join the celebration of the third anniversary of the coalition!
This report summarises the discussions and key conclusions of the first webinar in the NRFU–Science Europe Webinar Series 'Building Capacity in the Ukrainian Research and Innovation Ecosystem.' which explored how to balance bottom-up and top-down research funding.
Science Europe co-organised the first European Flagship Conference on Research Security, uniting experts to balance openness, academic freedom, and security in research.
This scoping review examines the contributions and unintended consequences of open science in realising results that align with key research culture values such as equity, openness, integrity, care, collaboration, and autonomy.
Commissioned by Science Europe, this review is the result of a collaboration between CWTS and the Know Center.
Science Europe has submitted its response to the European Commission’s Call for Evidence on the upcoming European Research Area (ERA) Act. The ERA Act represents a major opportunity to create a true single market for research and innovation – often referred to as the “fifth freedom” – by strengthening research excellence, shared values, and cross-border collaboration.
Science Europe made excellent progress on its research policy priorities in 2024, delivering key outputs in various areas, including science communication, research assessment, open science, the sustainability of research, international collaboration, and equality, diversity, and inclusion.
Science Europe is working together with CWTS and the Know Center to investigate the links between open science and research cultures.
The culmination of several years of discussions, activities, positions, and events – Science Europe presents a Vision and Framework for Research Cultures that aims to synthesise research policy advances towards the shared objective of supporting knowledge advancement and enabling the quality and impact of research.
Science Europe presents ‘A Vision and Framework for Research Cultures’. It synthesises our recent work across numerous policy topics focussing them on the shared objective of R&I systems to advance knowledge and enable the quality and impact of research.
This report analyses the role of public research funding and performing organisations in Europe in the shifting landscape of open science and research assessment reform. The findings demonstrate how Science Europe's Member Organisations actively shape and contribute to these developments.