Annual Statement of Compliance with the Concordat to Support Research Integrity (Financial Year 2022-23)
Published 19 May 2023
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1. Introductory statement and summary of actions
The Government Office for Science (GOS) is a public body that works with the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT), formerly Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS). GOS exists to advise the Prime Minister and the Cabinet on all matters related to science and works to ensure that government policies and decisions are informed by the best scientific evidence and strategic long-term thinking. See https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/government-office-for-science/about.
GOS is committed to the principles set out by the Concordat to Support Research Integrity. This ensures that others in government and beyond can have trust and confidence in our research and in any resulting policy or service delivery.
Sir Patrick Vallance, Government Chief Scientific Adviser 2018 to 2023, introduced the principles as part of his commitment to bringing integrity and openness to research conducted or commissioned by government.
GOS produced and published guidance to implement the Concordat to Support Research Integrity across the whole of government, on 1st February 2022.
GOS has identified the research conducted or commissioned by GOS that fell within scope of the guidance.
Staff with responsibility for GOS’s research projects have received an induction on the requirements of the guidance. Systems were established to ensure that research conducted or commissioned by GOS would meet the requirements.
2. Governance
Stuart Wainwright, Director of GOS, is the named senior member of staff with oversight of research integrity in GOS.
Tom Wells, Deputy Director for Futures, Emerging Technology and Strategic Projects, is championing and promoting the application of the research integrity requirements in GOS.
Rachael Creed wrote the cross-government guidance and is the named contact for research integrity in GOS. Rachael leads on establishing policies and systems for research integrity and providing advice on embedding the guidance’s requirements in GOS.
Queries about research integrity arrangements in GOS may be addressed to [email protected].
3. Processes to support culture of research integrity
GOS has introduced processes and supporting documentation to underpin the introduction of research integrity principles, including to identify what is research in scope and to record relevant research.
The work on research integrity informed GOS’s policy on transparency including our commitment to openness and sharing GOS’s project outputs on gov.uk.
GOS research has been informed by overarching analytical quality assurance from BEIS (now DSIT); ethical research guidance such as social media research guidance; and the principals set out in the Aqua Book : guidance on producing quality analysis for government. In procuring research from contractors, all public sector procurement rules were followed.[footnote 1]
4. Guidance for researchers, employers and commissioners of research
GOS’s officials have received guidance on: the introduction of the Concordat’s principles; GOS research integrity named roles; how and where to record research; and what key initial actions are required in support of research integrity.
GOS established a cross-government support service to share knowledge and best practice with all government officials with an interest in science, including those in GOS. GOS also built a repository of research-integrity-related resources.
During 2022 to 2023 GOS supported departments and GOS staff with implementation of the Concordat, including by facilitating a cross-government Concordat Working Group - see below.
5. Training and awareness raising
The Government Science and Engineering Profession (GSEP) career framework, which is applicable to scientists and engineers across government, including in GOS, lists understanding and application of the Concordat to Support Research amongst the technical skills for the GSEP.
GOS organised presentations for staff during the year to help them understand the requirements of the guidance.
GOS arranged for the Chief Executive of the UK Research Integrity Office (UKRIO, www.ukrio.org to deliver a presentation to officials across government, including GOS, on research integrity, in November 2022.
A repository of training material was created and introduced to staff – see above.
GOS provided relevant teams with ad-hoc training on embedding research integrity requirements and contributing to annual reporting.
6. External engagement
GOS engaged with UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) on research integrity and with the new UK Committee on Research Integrity (UKCORI) hosted by UKRI.
GOS had observer status at meetings of the Research Integrity Concordat Signatories (RICS) group, which oversees and promotes the Concordat. This informed the implementation of research integrity principles in GOS and across government.
GOS convened, led and provided the secretariat for a cross-government Concordat Working Group (CWG), which met throughout the reporting year to discuss the practical considerations of implementing the Concordat in government.
7. Open Science and research protocols
GOS identified a process for publishing research protocols and analysis plans in advance of research studies starting. The process allowed for research outputs to be published alongside these.
GOS established a central system for recording research it conducts or commissions, in order to make it visible and accessible to those who might benefit from using it.
8. Publication of research
GOS typically used gov.uk as a channel to share research outputs in accordance with the guidance. A different channel was used for research which was the result of a partnership with another organisation.
All research in scope during 2022 to 2023 was recorded.
9. Research misconduct
There were no cases of research misconduct in relation to research conducted or commissioned by GOS during financial year 2022 to 2023. Standard departmental procedures were in place should GOS officials have wished to raise concern.