The Spanish Committee on Research Ethics, created in Law 14/2011, of 1 June, on Science, Technology and Innovation, is attached to the Council for Scientific, Technology and Innovation Policy, as a collegial, independent and consultative body on matters related to professional ethics in scientific and technical research.
The main functions of the Committee include:
- Issue reports, proposals and recommendations on matters related to professional ethics in scientific and technical research.
- Establish general principles for the development of codes of good practices in scientific and technical research, including the resolution of conflicts of interest between public and private activities. These codes will be developed by the Research Ethics Committees and the Spanish Bioethics Committee.
- Represent Spain at supranational and international forums and organisations related to research ethics, except in the field of bioethics where the Spanish Bioethics Committee is responsible for representing Spain.
- Promote the creation of ethics committees linked to the implementing agents of the Spanish System of Science, Technology and Innovation.
