Ethics and Society Vision

As a European research infrastructure, EBRAINS serves the scientific community and aims to promote the public good.

Ethics and Society Vision

EBRAINS serves the European scientific community by promoting the public good. EBRAINS and its constituent organisations embrace the principles and values of the European Union as expressed in its Charter of Fundamental Rights. We at EBRAINS realise that true scientific and technical excellence requires ethical excellence: The integration of ethical and social reflection into all of its activities.

EBRAINS complies with all relevant European and national legislation of the EU Member States and upholds the ethical standards for European research as laid down in principles and policies of relevant programmes and bodies such as Horizon Europe and ESFRI. Furthermore, EBRAINS strives to:

• Promote human rights with a focus on how they are impacted by neuroscience and emerging neurotechnology;
• Engage with relevant stakeholders and the general public, including communities of patients and historically marginalized minorities in a culturally sensitive two-way dialogue.
• Promote trust and uphold EBRAINS social acceptability;
• Anticipate the possible consequences of EBRAINS research to pre-empt problems and promote positive impacts;
• Provide space and opportunity to reflect on the ethical acceptability, desirability, and sustainability of EBRAINS processes and their outcomes and products;
• Commit to addressing the ethical and societal issues raised by EBRAINS and its use;
• Integrate societal values into the design and development of EBRAINS structures and technologies; thus, including and going beyond privacy by design towards value-sensitive design and responsibility by design;
• Implement and follow Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion as guiding principles for research, collaboration and interaction with stakeholders ;
• Collaborate with other major initiatives and international partners, aiming at improving the way scientific research is led and increasing the involvement of diverse stakeholders to benefit society.

The present EBRAINS Ethics and Society vision is the result of an iterative process initiated jointly by EBRAINS and the Human Brain Project (HBP). It has been inspired by relevant documents, by the insights of the HBP community and by the invaluable advice from international experts as well as input from EU citizens. It has entailed careful reflection and the examination and evaluation of different viewpoints. The EBRAINS’ Board of Directors and its Management Board are extremely grateful for the time and the energy of so many that led to a vision that we, as EBRAINS, are committed to and proud to endorse and promote.

Ethics and Society Committee (EESC)

The EESC and EBRAINS works to ensure that structures are in place to address arising ethical and social concerns in all activities of EBRAINS. EBRAINS is continuing the legacy of Human Brain Project in promoting high ethical values and standards of responsible research and innovation among users, partners, and EBRAINS communities.