Understanding ethics in tech

A Horizon Europe project training researchers in ethics for new technologies

Our Mission

TRUST IN ETHICS

Public trust in science needs reliable and informed ethics experts and ethics review processes. We want to widen the pool of ethics reviewers with expertise in new technologies and educate on the risks of globalised research. irecs will make a significant contribution to improving the Horizon Europe ethics review process.

Equality in ethics

As globalisation increases, so does the risk of ethics dumping — or moving ethically dubious research to nations with less safeguards for research subjects across national borders. We are identifying and training researchers to protect science and new technologies from ethics dumping.



Improve conduct, not just capacity

We are working with ethics reviewers, committees, research funders and researchers themselves to improve conduct in the ethics review process. The success of irecs is measured by how we can change the ethics process for the better. We want the transformative power of new technology to be melded with the protection and promotion of fundamental human rights and values.


irecs Final Conference

11 – 12 December 2025, Brussels (BE)

irecs TRAINING MATERIALS

A comprehensive resource designed to educate individuals on research ethics and research integrity, with a particular focus on the ethical considerations surrounding emerging technologies:


  • Stage 1 (Basics): Introduction to fundamental concepts of research ethics and integrity
  • Stage 2 (Emerging Technologies): AI in healthcare, gene editing, biobanking, and extended reality
  • Stage 3 (Case Studies): Six case studies complementing the technology modules


The materials offer a flexible and in-depth learning experience on research ethics and integrity and cater to a range of users, from beginners to experienced professionals in the research field.

OUR COMMUNITIES

  • An e-community for early-career researchers (ECRs) on ENERI and in LinkedIn to facilitate knowledge exchange, peer support and mentoring opportunities for ECRs interested in or working within research ethics
  • A research ethics trainer community on The Embassy of Good Science to stimulate discourse and facilitate the adoption of good practices among research ethics trainers



In partnership with

Our Network

11

Nations. Our partner organisations are based across 11 countries

17

Project partner consortium

800

Universities represented in our stakeholder network

We support the European Research Area aimed at creating a single, borderless market for research, innovation and technology in the EU.

City skyline

Photo By: John Doe

Funded by the European Union. UK participants in Horizon Europe Project irecs are supported by UK Research and Innovation grant numbers 10055935 (University of Central Lancashire) and 10037820 (De Montfort University). Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the Research Executive Agency or UKRI. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority nor UKRI can be held responsible for them.

We support the European Research Area aimed at creating a single, borderless market

for research, innovation and technology in the EU.