Maintaining high qualitative standards in research, and striving for the best levels of professional ethical behaviour, are fundamental aspects of the University of Trento's mission which actively seeks to promote a culture which embraces the principles established in the institutional, national and European codes, with the aim of protecting the rights, dignity and wellbeing of those involved in research in various roles.

To allow teaching staff, researchers and the student community to work at these levels, the University has established specific bodies and adopted procedures and tools.

Research integrity is included in the institutional policy of the University. Making the University of Trento a benchmark at national and international level on themes related to research integrity is among the objectives of the 2022-2027 Strategic Plan.

For this reason, the University promotes and finances the interdepartmental project of strategic significance: Integrity of Trento Research - INTEGRA, which aims to develop interdisciplinary competencies of a legal, ethical and scientific nature among staff who carry out research in the fields of the life sciences and new technologies.

Research security refers to the capacity to prevent and manage risks associated with the unwanted transfer of critical knowledge and technologies, malicious interference in the conduct of research that leads to breaches of ethics and integrity, the misuse of results to the detriment of security and fundamental rights, as well as violations of national and international export control and non-proliferation regulations. The primary objective is to ensure that knowledge, technologies, and collaborations are always managed in a responsible, ethical, and legally compliant manner. In this light, strengthening the awareness and responsibility of researchers does not constitute a limitation on scientific freedom; rather, it represents a fundamental safeguard to preserve open, secure, and fully compliant international cooperation.

The University adopted procedures and tools aimed at guaranteeing continuous and up-to-date training as well as the necessary orientation on the themes of ethics and integrity in research. It supports its researchers in verifying research compliance through: 

• Research compliance for funded research
• opinions of the Research Ethics Committee
• Data Management Plan (DMP)

The University of Trento offers specific training programs related to research ethics and integrity.

• Research Ethics Committee - CER
• Animal Welfare Body - OPBA
• Senate Commission for the Implementation of the Code of Ethics
• Advisory Group on Research Ethics and Integrity

• General policy for the use of Generative Artificial Intelligence tools (Italian version)