Implementation of the Guidelines

All higher education institutions and non-HEI research institutions must implement levels one and two of guidelines 1 to 19 in the DFG Code of Conduct Guidelines for Safeguarding Good Research Practice in a legally binding manner in accordance with the organisational form of the institution. Compliance with this Code is a prerequisite for receiving DFG funding; institutions that do not implement the guidelines are not eligible for funding. When submitting funding proposals to the DFG and in accepting funding, applicants and grant recipients agree to adhere to the principles of good scientific practice as stipulated in DFG funding guidelines and the funding guidelines of programmes implemented by the DFG.

The Code enters into force on 1 August 2019. For those HEIs and non-HEI research institutions that have already implemented the relevant requirements in the DFG white paper Safeguarding Good Scientific Practice in a binding manner, there is a two-year transition period for implementing the guidelines in the Code. This period begins on 1 August 2019 and ends on 31 July 2021. [The transitional period for implementing the Code has been extended until 31 July 2023 by the DFG General Assembly.]

HEIs and non-HEI research institutions (particularly members of the Alliance of Science Organisations in Germany) implement the guidelines in a legally binding manner according to the organisational form of the institution.

If a non-HEI (research) institution cannot implement the guidelines in a legally binding manner on its own due to its organisational structure or its particular nature or other circumstances, there are various options for implementing and acknowledging the Code. Institutions to which this applies may associate themselves with an institution that has implemented the DFG Code and acknowledge its implementation of the Code as binding for them (the cooperation model). If the non-HEI (research) institution cannot find a cooperation partner, it can contact the German Rectors’ Conference (HRK), which will arrange a partner institution that is willing to act in allegations of scientific misconduct in individual cases (backup model). In matters relating to ombudspersons, the institutions concerned may contact the German Research Ombudsman. They will implement the principles of the Code accordingly.

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