On 17 September 2026, the CHANGER project was represented at the Forum for Research Ethics 2026 in Norway, an annual meeting bringing together researchers, research ethics experts, committee members, and institutional representatives to exchange knowledge and experiences on responsible research practices.

Held online under the theme “Systems to safeguard integrity – and trust,” this year’s forum focused on the role of research institutions in strengthening research integrity, promoting a responsible research culture, and developing preventive measures to address emerging ethical challenges.

Hella von Unger, Professor at Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich (LMU), and Matthias Kaiser, Senior Researcher at NORSUS and Professor Emeritus at the University of Bergen, represented the CHANGER consortium with a presentation entitled “Beyond Ethics Review: Building a Culture of Ethical Reflexivity.” Drawing on focus groups and expert interviews conducted across Europe within the CHANGER project, the presentation explored key challenges facing current research ethics systems, particularly the limitations of traditional ethics review procedures in addressing complex and evolving ethical issues. The findings highlighted tensions between standardised ethics review frameworks and the diverse methodological approaches used in contemporary research, especially in the social sciences and transdisciplinary research. Emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence, further underline the need for more adaptive and responsive approaches to research ethics.

A central message of the presentation was that ensuring ethical research requires more than formal compliance and one-time ethics approval. Instead, research institutions should foster a culture of ethical reflexivity, encouraging continuous dialogue, consultation, and mutual learning among researchers, ethics committees, and societal partners. The presentation also highlighted the potential for Research Ethics Committees to move beyond their traditional role as reviewers and gatekeepers, becoming active partners and advisers throughout the research process. In this context, CHANGER’s innovative tools and approaches were introduced as practical ways to strengthen institutional support for ethical responsibility.

The CHANGER presentation formed part of the forum’s session on “Research on Preventive Efforts in Research Ethics and Research Integrity,” contributing to broader discussions on how institutions can establish effective systems that safeguard research integrity and public trust.

The presentation can be found here.