July 2012

In May, the National Science Foundation hosted the inaugural meeting of the Global Research Council, charged with facilitating international collaboration in scientific research. The two-day Global Summit on Merit Review, held in Washington, D.C., engaged heads of research funding agencies from around the world in comprehensive policy discussions of the inherent challenges of publicly funded scientific research. The groups examined issues of quality and transparency and their importance in efforts to ensure that government-funded projects ultimately advance the needs of the public. The Council drafted and endorsed a Statement of Principles for Scientific Merit Review, representing a consensus on best practices for evaluating scientific research.

The principles—Expert Assessment, Transparency, Impartiality, Appropriateness, Confidentiality, and Integrity and Ethical Considerations—have two main goals: to promote shared standards and international cooperation among scientific research funding agencies, and to guide governments as they develop new funding agencies and review systems. The Council will continue to work toward international collaboration in scientific research, seeking to advance the public good through shared scientific knowledge.

 The Global Research Council’s approximately 50 members represent agencies in the G20 and OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development) countries and several developing countries. The Council is governed by a board with representation from both developing and developed countries. The next global summit, to be held in 2013, will be hosted by Brazil and Germany.