04/20/23

Why an Expert Group on the Global Governance of Science?

An activity launched by the Governance and Ethics Unit of DG Research:

background and next steps

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European Commission

Research DG

Head of Unit

Governance and Ethics

Pēteris ZILGALVIS, J.D.

Why an Expert Group on Global Governance of Science?

• EU‘s Framework Programme for Research is now internatonal: inclusion of international partners, in fact and further encouraged

• Science is a driving force of globalisation

• Rise of emerging States in the world economy and science

• EU is a global actor on normative issues (human rights and democratisation)

Why an Expert Group on Global Governance of Science?

• Specific challenges for the global aspects of an European Research Area:

- scientific misconduct, scientific integrity

- processes of divergence-convergence of ethical standards between regions-countries, possible science-technology divides

- nontransparent forms of mandated science at the global level

Why an Expert Group on Global Governance of Science?

• Specific Governance challenges:

-decreasing capabilities of Nation States to govern science, especially when it crosses borders

-increasing role of non-governmental organisations and industry in setting standards

Approach of the Expert Group on Global Governance of Science?

• Expert Group`s approach driven by a vision of global governance based on:

- European established principles of good governance

- Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union

Possible next steps

• Research on dynamics between regions on promoting particular ethical standards

• Research on models for global governance of science

• Ethical requirements for participating in international collaborative research projects

• International dialogue on particular issues: Nanotechnology, security-technologies