VIRT2UE · Project

Ready-Made Research Integrity Training Program for Universities and R&D Organizations

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Imagine you run a university or a big R&D lab, and you need to make sure hundreds of researchers actually follow the rules of good science — not just know them on paper, but live by them. VIRT2UE built a complete train-the-trainer course that teaches instructors how to teach research ethics effectively, mixing online learning with in-person workshops. Think of it like a franchise model for ethics training: you train a few people well, and they go train everyone else across Europe. The program was rolled out in 12 countries and comes with a full toolbox of teaching materials ready to use.

By the numbers

partner organizations in consortium

European countries covered

total project deliverables produced

2,800,000

EUR in EU funding invested in program development

The business problem

What needed solving

Research misconduct and integrity failures cost institutions millions in retracted publications, legal fees, and reputational damage. Most organizations know they need research ethics training but lack the internal expertise to build effective programs — and generic compliance checkbox training rarely changes behavior. There is a gap between knowing the rules and actually embedding ethical research practices into daily work.

The solution

What was built

A complete blended learning train-the-trainer program combining online courses with face-to-face sessions, plus a toolbox of 21 deliverables including teaching materials, trainer guides, and the face-to-face training program itself. The program focuses on the European Code of Conduct for Research Integrity and was designed for cascade deployment across institutions.

Audience

Who needs this

University research integrity officers needing scalable training programsPharmaceutical and biotech companies building internal R&D compliance trainingContract research organizations requiring staff ethics certificationNational research funding agencies mandating integrity training for granteesResearch compliance consultancies looking for proven training products to license

Business applications

Who can put this to work

Higher Education

enterprise

Target: Universities and research institutions with large researcher populations

If you are a university struggling to deliver consistent research integrity training across departments — this project developed a complete blended learning train-the-trainer program, tested across 12 countries, that lets you train a small group of instructors who then cascade the training to all your researchers. The program comes with 21 deliverables including ready-made teaching materials and an online course.

Pharmaceutical & Biotech

mid-size

Target: Pharma and biotech companies with in-house R&D teams

If you are a pharma or biotech company needing to ensure your R&D staff follows the European Code of Conduct for Research Integrity — this project created a structured training program with concrete tools for ethical reflection. With 14 partner organizations contributing expertise, the materials are designed to work for researchers in both academia and industry settings.

Contract Research & Compliance

SME

Target: Contract research organizations and research compliance consultancies

If you are a compliance consultancy or CRO looking to offer research integrity training as a service — this project built a proven train-the-trainer model that was deployed across 12 European countries. The blended learning format combines online modules with face-to-face sessions, giving you a ready-to-license training product backed by EUR 2,800,000 in EU-funded development.

Frequently asked

Quick answers

How much would it cost to adopt this training program?

The project was funded with EUR 2,800,000 in EU contribution as a Coordination and Support Action. The training materials and online course were designed for wide dissemination. Based on available project data, specific licensing or adoption costs are not stated — contact the coordinator at Amsterdam UMC to discuss terms.

Can this scale across a large organization or multiple campuses?

Yes — the entire design is built around scalability. The train-the-trainer model means you train a small cohort of instructors who then deliver the program independently. It was tested across 14 partner organizations in 12 countries, demonstrating cross-border and cross-institutional scalability.

What is the IP situation — can we use these materials?

As a CSA (Coordination and Support Action), the project's primary goal was dissemination and capacity building. The training materials were designed for broad European adoption. Based on available project data, specific licensing terms are not published — the coordinator STICHTING AMSTERDAM UMC would clarify reuse conditions.

Is this compliant with current EU research regulations?

The program was specifically designed around the European Code of Conduct for Research Integrity (ECoC). It maps directly to the principles in the Code and was developed in consultation with existing research integrity trainers across Europe. This makes it directly relevant for institutions needing to demonstrate ECoC compliance.

How long does it take to implement?

The project ran from June 2018 to November 2021, with the face-to-face train-the-trainer program listed as a key deliverable. Based on available project data, the blended learning format combines online self-paced modules with in-person sessions, suggesting a training cycle of weeks rather than months for each cohort.

Does this work for industry researchers, not just academics?

The project objective explicitly states the program is designed for researchers in both academia and industry. The consortium included 1 industry partner alongside 9 universities. The materials address applying the European Code of Conduct in practical, everyday research situations regardless of setting.

Consortium

Who built it

The consortium of 14 partners across 12 countries is heavily academic, with 9 universities forming the core. There is 1 industry partner and 3 other-type organizations (likely ethics boards, associations, or training bodies), plus 1 research institute. With zero SMEs and only a 7% industry ratio, this is clearly a research-and-education-driven project. For a business buyer, this means the training content is academically rigorous but may need adaptation for corporate R&D environments. The geographic spread across 12 countries — including AT, BE, DE, EL, FI, HR, IT, LV, NL, NO, PT, and TR — demonstrates the program works across different research cultures and regulatory contexts.

STICHTING AMSTERDAM UMCCoordinator · NL
HELSINGIN YLIOPISTOparticipant · FI
ANKARA UNIVERSITESIparticipant · TR
ETHNICON METSOVION POLYTECHNIONparticipant · EL
UNIVERSIDADE CATOLICA PORTUGUESAparticipant · PT
ÖSTERREICHISCHE AGENTUR FUR WISSENSCHAFTLICHE INTEGRITATparticipant · AT
UNIVERSITETET I OSLOparticipant · NO
UNIVERSITA DEGLI STUDI DELL'INSUBRIAparticipant · IT
EUROPEAN NETWORK OF RESEARCH ETHICS COMMITTEES (EUREC) EVparticipant · DE
LATVIJAS UNIVERSITATEparticipant · LV
EUREC OFFICE GUGparticipant · DE
KATHOLIEKE UNIVERSITEIT LEUVENparticipant · BE
SVEUCILISTE U SPLITU MEDICINSKI FAKULTETparticipant · HR

How to reach the team

STICHTING AMSTERDAM UMC (Netherlands) — search for VIRT2UE project lead at Amsterdam UMC research integrity department

Order a report on this consortium See STICHTING AMSTERDAM UMC profile →

Next steps

Talk to the team behind this work.

Want to adopt this research integrity training for your organization? SciTransfer can connect you directly with the program developers and help negotiate access terms.

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