9 december 2005

In its report Wetenschap op bestelling the KNAW advises the Minister of Education, Culture and Science on measures that can be taken to safeguard the independence of researchers in the public sector when carrying out contract research for external parties.

The Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW) regards cooperation between research institutes and third parties as a positive development in itself. However it feels that universities and research institutes are becoming too dependent on specific research assignments for external clients because government funding fails to keep pace with their needs. Information garnered from publications and informal discussions suggest that abuses do occur: the structure of the research and the collection and interpretation of data are sometimes adapted to produce results that are favourable to the client and publication of the findings is sometimes prevented, delayed or tailored to the wishes of the client. This is true of research assignments carried out for government authorities and interest groups as well as contracts for clients in trade and industry.

One of the reasons why clients use scientific research to bolster their policy or promote their products is because citizens and customers have confidence in science. The loss of that confidence will strike at the very roots of scientific credibility. The KNAW therefore recommends that researchers and clients state their commitment to the following 'Declaration of Scientific Independence'.



Download Declaration of Scientific Independence

• Declaration of Scientific Independence (pdf)
• Declaration of Scientific Independence (jpg)

The KNAW recommends that the government should express its commitment to the independence of research by proclaiming this 'Declaration of Scientific Objectivity' applicable to all contract research funded by the government and by abolishing the conditions often adopted by the ministries that conflict with it. The KNAW advises research institutes to state for the record whether they wish to operate in accordance with this 'Declaration of Scientific Independence'. The LOWI (Dutch name Landelijk Overleg Orgaan Wetenschappelijke Integriteit) could keep a public register of the institutes that adhere to the Declaration. Parties would then confirm in their contracts that the research will be conducted subject to the terms of this 'Declaration of Scientific Independence'. They would make specific mention of this in their publications and reports. Institutes such as DLO, TNO and the Large Technological Institutes (GTIS) that wish to follow these guidelines on an ad hoc basis can stipulate that in the relevant contract or in their general terms and conditions and notify the LOWI to that effect. The KNAW also feels it is vital that undergraduates and doctoral students become familiar with the 'Declaration of Scientific Independence' during their course and act in accordance with it.

The report report Wetenschap op bestelling (with a summary in English) can be downloaded from the KNAW website as a PDF file.