Skip to main content
Instituto de empresa
            A man and a woman are shaking hands across a table in a bright, spacious room with large windows.

            Ethics & Governance

            • Home
            • Ethics & Governance

            Research Integrity

            Research at IE University adheres to established ethical standards, regulatory frameworks, and institutional policies. The IE Research Committee acts as the Institutional Review Board, reviewing all research involving human participants, personal data, student participation, and sensitive materials. It evaluates ethical considerations, risk, and data protection in coordination with IE Legal Services.

            Research integrity at IE University is guided by six principles:

            • Research is undertaken with technical, ethical, and professional responsibility at every stage, from design through dissemination.

            • Full regard for participants' rights, dignity, privacy, and informed consent in all research involving people.

            • Commitment to scientific rigor, continuous improvement, and the highest standards in methodology and output.

            • Honesty and transparency across all research activity, with independence from conflict of interest.

            • Research conducted responsibly, with attention to its environmental footprint at every stage.

            • Active compliance with legal requirements and institutional procedures to reduce the environmental impact of research.

            Principles of Integrity

            View document

            Code of conduct

            View document

            Three professionals are walking together in a modern office space.

            Open Science

            Open Science promotes transparency, accessibility, and collaboration to enhance research reliability and societal impact. It is a mandatory requirement under Horizon Europe and the European Research Area, requiring open access to publications, data management plans aligned with FAIR principles , and responsible research assessment. Spain's National Strategy for Open Science (ENCA) provides the national implementation framework.

            A woman and a man are engaged in a conversation in a modern office space.

            Open Access

            Open Access ensures that publicly funded research is freely available without economic, legal, or technical barriers. Horizon Europe requires immediate open access to peer-reviewed publications, while Spanish law establishes open access obligations through the Science, Technology and Innovation Act and the Organic Law of the University System (LOSU).

            Researchers receive guidance on compliant publication routes, copyright and licensing, and repository deposit. The IE Repository provides secure dissemination and long-term preservation of research outputs 

            Research Data Management

            Effective data management supports integrity, reproducibility, and reuse while ensuring compliance with data protection, confidentiality, and intellectual property obligations. The Library provides guidance throughout the research lifecycle:

            1/5

            • Preparing Data Management Plans aligned with Horizon Europe requirements

            • Applying FAIR principles: Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable

            • Managing sensitive or confidential data in compliance with ethical and legal standards

            • Understanding data ownership, intellectual property, and licensing

            • Identifying appropriate repositories for data deposit

            A translucent spherical structure made of interconnected lines and nodes.

            Artificial Intelligence

            IE University treats artificial intelligence as both a research tool and a subject of study. AI is used across research activities to improve quality and output, and its governance implications are an active area of inquiry. IE University's Institutional Statement on Artificial Intelligence (May 2023) sets out the principles that guide this work.

            IE Statement on AI
            Two people are sitting at a table engaged in a serious conversation.

            Gender Equality & Inclusion

            IE University is committed to inclusive research environments and the integration of gender considerations into research content and project design. The Equal Opportunities and Diversity Plan and the IE Group Equality Plan promote equal opportunities, non-discrimination, and measures that foster inclusion, retention, and career development across the institution.

            Equal Opportunities Plan
            IE Group Equality Plan

            Public Engagement & Societal Impact

            IE University research is oriented toward societal impact. The IE Engagement Strategy, guided by the Office of the Rector , sets out how the institution develops partnerships and engages with external stakeholders in pursuit of that goal.

            Climate & Sustainability

            IE University's Climate and Sustainability Plan integrates sustainability across teaching, research, operations, and governance. It is organized around six goals:

            • Transformative Knowledge

            • Sustainable Campus Operations

            • Research on Grand Challenges

            • Social Equity

            • Community Engagement

            • Governance and Ethical Leadership

            Climate and Sustainability Plan

            view document

            • A diverse group of people posing together in a professional setting.
            • A motivational phrase encouraging individuals to empower their entrepreneurial spirit.
            • A motivational quote encouraging innovation with a proactive mindset.
            • A message emphasizing the importance of cherishing diversity in people, mind, and experience.
            • This image features a motivational phrase emphasizing a humanistic approach in a stylish font.
            IE - REINVENTING HIGHER EDUCATION