The Munster statement on the principles of research ethics and research integrity

In response to the growing need for consistent research ethics (RE) and research integrity (RI) practices, the INGENIUM European University has developed The Munster Statement on the Principles of Research Ethics and Research Integrity. This forward-looking commitment, led by the MARIE - Multidisciplinary Approach to Research Integrity and Ethics - project, involved a multi-jurisdictional team from ten European countries.The Munster Statement outlines core interconnected principles of RE (Beneficence, Justice, Non-maleficence, Research Merit) and RI (Accountability, Honesty, Reliability, Respect), in a unified and accessible format. Developed through a collaborative, structured, multilingual, and dialogic process, it synthesises local, national, and international guidelines, offering a practical yet broad reference point for researchers, supervisors, and research leaders. With the multitude of high-level guidelines in existence, The Munster Statement was developed to enable a consistent approach to RE and RI across INGENIUM through a collaboratively authored reference point that supports alignment across diverse institutional contexts.The Munster Statement emphasises collective leadership and aims to embed ethical reflection into everyday research, aligning with Sustainable Development Goals 4, 9, 16, and 17. Launched in May 2025 and available in ten languages, The Munster Statement aims to foster public trust and strengthen international partnerships, thus paving a pathway for the responsible conduct of research, laying the groundwork for future training and implementation across the alliance and beyond.