UKRIO issues joint statement and briefing document on the refreshed Concordat to Support Research Integrity
April 4th 2025,
Today, a refreshed version of the Concordat to Support Research Integrity was published following an extensive review and sector-wide consultation led by the Research Integrity Concordat Signatories (RICS) Group. As the UK’s national framework for research integrity, updates to the Concordat have significant implications for the research landscape.
UKRIO and UKRN issue joint statement
In response to these revisions, UKRIO and the UK Reproducibility Network (UKRN) have issued a joint statement, assessing how the updates align with the recommendations made in our shared submission to the 2024 consultation. The statement highlights key improvements as well as areas where we believe further refinement may be warranted in the future.
UKRIO publishes new Concordat briefing document
UKRIO has also published a briefing document providing a practical overview of the changes introduced in the 2025 Concordat. This resource outlines the key updates, compares the 2025 edition with the 2019 version, and helps readers to quickly identify how the document has evolved and what new requirements have been introduced. Given the Concordat’s role in shaping the terms and conditions of many research grants, it is essential that researchers and institutions familiarise themselves with these changes.
First published in 2012, the Concordat is the UK’s key framework for research integrity, setting out the commitments that all stakeholders in the research process should uphold to maintain the highest standards of integrity. Now hosted by the UK Committee on Research Integrity (UKCORI), it provides essential guidance on research culture, ethics, and governance. It also influences funding requirements and applies across all research disciplines and sectors in the UK.
Why was it refreshed?
The Concordat is periodically updated to ensure it remains relevant and effective in addressing emerging challenges in research integrity. Revisions reflect developments in the research landscape, align with policy and regulatory changes, enhance clarity, and incorporate feedback from the research community. The last revision took place in 2019.
As part of this latest update, a sector-wide consultation invited input on potential improvements. UKRIO and UKRN submitted a joint response advocating for key changes to strengthen the Concordat and ensure it provides clear, practical guidance for researchers and institutions.
What’s next?
UKRIO remains committed to supporting the research community in implementing the updated Concordat. In the coming months, we will publish further guidance, including an updated Concordat Self-Assessment Tool, to help institutions and researchers navigate these changes.
We encourage readers to review our briefing note (see above) for a summary of the key updates and compliance requirements. Organisations have until April 2026 to meet the expectations of the 2025 Concordat, but they should continue adhering to the 2019 edition in the meantime.
If you have any questions about your responsibilities under the revised Concordat, please contact us at info@ukrio.org.