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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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.
Research integrity is a cornerstone of robust and reliable research systems, and is linked to healthy research cultures, attractive working environments, and the collective goal to support high-quality research. This statements reaffirms its importance and offers recommendations to research organisations for further action.
2023 proved to be another landmark year for Science Europe: building on the achievements of the previous year and setting the direction for new approaches in vital areas of research policy.
This Multi-annual Action Plan proposes a series of framework actions to guide the implementation of the Science Europe Strategy Plan 2021–2026 in line with the association's updated vision, mission, values, and strategic priorities. The Action Plan was updated in June 2024.
This briefing on the ERA Policy Agenda presents actions and advocacy points from Science Europe on the ERA Actions that it contributes to.
This action plan details the activities Science Europe undertakes to contribute to the Coalition for Advancing Research Assessment (CoARA) in the coming years.
Science Europe’s new ‘Practical Guide to Supporting Diversity in Research Environments’ highlights key findings from a membership survey conducted in 2023, showcases good practices, and provides practical recommendations across topics such as positive action measures and the collection and use of diversity data.