This CoARA Boost Cascade Grant Teaming Project awarded in August 2025 brings together the Catholic University of Portugal (UCP), TOBB University of Economics and Technology (TOBB ETÜ), and the Research Data Alliance (RDA) to co-develop and implement a structured approach to ethics self-evaluation in research assessment. The project is coordinated by RDA Europe, and it is centred on the CoARA-ERIP Ethics Self-Assessment Checklist. The initiative targets reform across four key levels: individual researchers, research projects, research units, and institutions.
The project emphasises the importance of ethical reflection and integrity throughout the research lifecycle, especially in light of artificial intelligence (AI) and data-intensive methods. It builds on the work of CoARA’s Ethics and Research Integrity Policy for Responsible Research Assessment in Data and Artificial Intelligence (ERIP) Working Group and will continue to the further development of its outputs. In doing so, it supports alignment with CoARA’s vision and European policy priorities, including the REA Report on Research Assessment, European Strategy for AI in Science, and the Apply AI Strategy.
AI influences all research stages demanding rigorous ethical governance, transparency, and respect for fundamental rights. This Teaming Project promotes mutual learning, digital responsibility, and the creation of adaptable tools and training for scalable use. Outputs will serve institutional needs while contributing a foundational approach to the broader CoARA goals for research assessment reform. Through the global RDA network, this initiative is designed to expand the research of CoARA-ERIP to over 15,000 researchers across 151 countries
About the project
The project will deliver a scalable self-evaluation model for research assessment, with a particular emphasis on the ethical dimensions of AI and data-intensive research. Drawing on the CoARA-ERIP Checklist, it addresses the reform needs of researchers, research units, and institutions by enabling structured and responsible self-assessment. The rationale behind this team lies in the complementary roles of the three partners, combining local implementation with international alignment on data stewardship, AI policy, and ethical infrastructure. UCP and TOBB ETÜ represent institutions actively engaged in reform and experimentation, working within distinct national contexts. RDA contributes expertise in data ethics, technical policy, and capacity-building, ensuring that local practices remain internationally aligned and interoperable. This structure enables the testing, and refinement of self-assessment tools in real institutional settings.
The project will lead to tangible institutional change through the following:
✓ Developing tailored, reusable ethics self-assessment templates for researchers, projects, and institutions
✓ Embedding ethical reflection, AI awareness, and data governance within research assessment practices
✓ Advancing integration with the European AI Continent Action Plan4 and associated strategies in science and digital policy
Sustainability will be ensured through the creation of training modules and digital toolkits for long-term institutional use and guidance materials designed to reflect CoARA’s commitments and international ethical standards. Dissemination will take place across the CoARA and RDA communities, including translation into Portuguese, Turkish, English, French, and Spanish to maximise accessibility and reusability. The added value of this project lies in its layered, cross-institutional design. By linking assessment reform to institutional culture, research practice, and policy alignment, it enables holistic change.
More information about the project’s progress, deliverables and upcoming events will follow soon.
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