National Policy on Scientific Integrity and Research Ethics

The Research, Development, and Innovation Authority (RDIA), in coordination with the Council of University Affairs and other relevant entities, developed this policy under mandate No. (K-2-5/45/C) issued by the Executive Committee of the Supreme Committee for Research, Development, and Innovation on 01/04/1446H. This mandate directed the preparation of a unified policy on research ethics and scientific integrity, including national principles for ethical research. The policy also incorporates findings from a study assessing universities’ governance of research, scientific publishing, and research ethics, prepared by a committee under the Council of University Affairs.

This policy aligns with international best practices while considering national contexts, local conditions, and the maturity of scientific research in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. It complements other regulations such as the Law on Research Ethics on Living Organisms (Cabinet Decision No. 321 dated 13/09/1431H), the Copyright Protection Law (Cabinet Decision No. 85 dated 09/04/1424H), the Labor Law (Cabinet Decision No. 219 dated 22/08/1426H), the Penal Law for Counterfeiting Crimes (Royal Decree No. M/11 dated 18/02/1435H), the Law for the Protection of Whistleblowers, Witnesses, Experts, and Victims (Royal Decree No. M/148 dated 08/08/1445H), the Public Servants Discipline Law (Royal Decree No. M/18 dated 08/02/1443H), and Law of Universities Royal decree No. M/27 in 2/3/1441H.

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This policy aims to be a unified national framework to promote scientific integrity, ensure the highest ethical standards in research practices, and enhance trust in the outcomes of national scientific research. It focuses on instituting national governance for scientific integrity, regulating research practices and ethics (inclu​ding drafting research proposals and managing the risks of artificial intelligence in research), addressing conflicts of interest, and organizing ethics in international research collaborations.

This policy applies to all researchers, research entities, and research funding bodies in the Kingdom, including collaborations with entities outside the Kingdom.

The following terms and phrases, wherever mentioned in this policy, shall have the meanings ascribed to them unless the context indicates otherwise:

Author: The person who created a work.

Research: A systematic and organized study conducted according to recognized scientific principles.

Research Proposal: A comprehensive scientific and methodological description of the nature of the problem, its importance, the objectives set to solve it, and the methods for implementing the proposal.

Whistleblower: A person who voluntarily provides information or evidence.

Conflict of Interest: The existing of potential interests to obtain material or moral benefits, including research and proposal evaluations.

Ghostwriting: Authorship claimed by an individual for work written by another without proper acknowledgment.

Scientific Integrity: Honesty, credibility, and avoidance of unethical conduct in research per local and international norms.

Scientific Responsibility: Accountability for the accuracy and reliability of data, information, and research outcomes.

Data Fabrication: Creation or invention of fictitious data or results.

Data Manipulation: Altering or omitting data, information, processes, or results to mislead or achieve specific outcomes.

Misuse of Research Funds: Improper use of research funds or purchased items in ways inconsistent with scientific standards.

Credential Misrepresentation: Misleading verbal or written statements regarding qualifications, past experiences, or institutional affiliations.

Copyright Infringement: Violating the rights of the creator of a work under the Copyright Protection Law.

Duplicate Submission: Submitting research for publication to multiple publishers or formats simultaneously without necessary approvals.

Research Misconduct: Practices that violate accepted research conduct norms locally and internationally, such as excessive or unwarranted citation, plagiarism, falsification, or intellectual property violations, or duplicate submission for scientific work. 

1. Researchers are required to adhere to the following:

a. Conduct their research with honesty and credibility, presenting results transparently.

b. Familiarize themselves with and abide by the regulations, policies, and codes of conduct concerning scientific integrity and research ethics issued by their affiliated institutions or the institutions where their research is conducted.

c. Undergo training on scientific integrity and research ethics provided by their affiliated or host institutions.

d. Disclose any material or non-material conflicts of interest when preparing research or proposals, conducting peer reviews, or communicating research results to the media.

e. Maintain confidentiality, fairness, and professionalism when evaluating research, proposals, or academic awards.

f. Avoid and refrain from engaging in any behavior deemed inappropriate in academic or scientific communities, both locally and internationally.

g. Take responsibility for research execution, ensuring accuracy in its outputs.

h. Retain research data records and avoid their destruction, for a period of time not less than five years if they are not specified by the entity to which the researcher is affiliated.

i. Report any practices concerning scientific integrity violations.

j. Use artificial intelligence (AI) ethically and within permissible limits.

k. Ensure transparency in scholarly publishing regarding da​ta collection, research methodologies, and result presentation, without prejudice to privacy or disclosure of confidential information. 

l. Consider sustainability and environmental and social factors during research activities.

2. Research institutions are required to:

a. Allow researchers the freedom to conduct their research without undue influence to alter findings for commercial, political, media, or administrative purposes.

b. Treat breaches of scientific integrity and research ethics seriously and firmly.

c. Provide a conducive environment for conducting research and promote adherence to best research practices per local and international academic norms.

d. Offer guidelines and reference materials on scientific integrity and research ethics.

e. Facilitate necessary training for researchers on scientific integrity and research ethics.

f. Continuously improve policies to support researchers’ capabilities and enhance their skills.

g. Clearly define policies regarding authorship with multiple affiliations in employment contracts, ensuring explicit approval from the institution before adding any secondary affiliation.

1. The following are considered violations of scientific integrity principles:

a. Fabricating research data.

b. Distorting or misrepresenting research data.

c. Plagiarism and infringement of copyright.

d. Ghostwriting.

e. Misrepresentation or falsification of academic qualifications.

f. Using research findings inaccurately or misleadingly for media or political gain.

g. Misusing research funds for unintended purposes.

h. Failing to disclose conflicts of interest during the evaluation of research, proposals, or academic awards.

i. Failing to report violations of scientific integrity and research ethics.

j. Repeatedly submitting the same scientific content for simultaneous publication.

k. Assigning authorship rights without actual intellectual contributions.

l. Listing a researcher’s name on projects to which they made no discernible academic or intellectual contribution, contrary to local and international academic norms.

m. Using managerial influence in research institutions to claim authorship without genuine contribution.

n. Unethical use of AI in research, as outlined in Article Eight.

o. Retracting published research for reasons other than those specified below:

• Errors from scientific journals or referees that are beyond the control of the researcher.

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1. A permanent national committee shall be established by a decision of the Supreme Committee for Research, Development, and Innovation to govern and oversee scientific integrity and research ethics in the Kingdom. Its tasks are as follows:

a. Oversee all scientific integrity and research ethics committees across the Kingdom and receive semi-annual reports from every committee affiliated with research institutions in the Kingdom.

b. Receive and address escalated cases related to scientific integrity from entities outside the Kingdom or raised upon escalation requests by heads of research entities within the Kingdom.

c. Address issues of scientific integrity that impact the nation’s reputation or destabilize the credibility of research produced in or by the Kingdom.

d. Communicate with the Public Prosecution regarding scientific integrity cases that harm the nation’s reputation and arise from unethical research behavior, requiring actions or penalties not specified in this policy.

e. Form specialized subcommittees and grant them the necessary powers to perform their duties.

f. Propose amendments to the policy.

g. Communicate with research entities where breaches of the principles outlined in this policy occur, to investigate complaints or handle escalations referred to in Paragraph c of this article.

h. Submit an annual report to the Supreme Committee for Research, Development, and Innovation on the state of scientific integrity in the Kingdom.

a. The Council of Universities Affairs.

b. The Saudi Authority for Intellectual Property.

c. The Research, Development, and Innovation Authority.

d. The National Committee for Bioethics.

e. The Public Prosecution.

f. The Anti-Corruption Authority.

g. The Ministry of Human Resources.

h. Three experts specializing in scientific integrity with diverse academic backgrounds.

a. Ensure that the institution adequately educates, raises awareness, and provides training on scientific integrity and research ethics.

b. Ensure the institution has a platform for reporting breaches of scientific integrity, while maintaining the confidentiality of whistleblowers’ information.

c. Submit semi-annual reports to the national committee, detailing all breaches of scientific integrity, the measures and penalties taken, and any research works retracted during the reporting period.

d. Escalate cases of scientific integrity that impact the nation’s research reputation and require immediate attention or additional measures to the national committee.

e. Archive all records related to breaches of scientific integrity and actions taken.

f. Address all complaints related to scientific integrity within 60 days of receiving them.

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a. Language proofreading.

b. Editing to improve linguistic style.

c. Summarizing research ideas.

d. Translating content.

e. Collecting data sources and information.

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