Introduction
The European Charter for Researchers is a set of principles underpinning the development of attractive research careers to support excellence in research and innovation across Europe. The focus of the Charter is the rights and responsibilities of researchers, employers, funders and policymakers.
The Charter for Researchers consists of 20 key principles. These are classified under the following four pillars:
- Ethics, Integrity, Gender and Open Science;
- Researchers’ Assessment, Recruitment and Progression;
- Working Conditions and Practices;
- Research Careers and Talent Development.
The Charter for Researchers is directed to all researchers, research performing sectors and respective umbrella organisations (stakeholders). This includes:
- Researchers in all sectors – academia, public and private organisations performing research;
- Employers of researchers in the public and private sector;
- Funders of research and researchers in the public and private sector;
- Policymakers concerned with policies relevant to the Charter.
It addresses researchers across all disciplines including science, technology, engineering, mathematics (STEM) and social sciences and humanities (SSH). It covers all types of research, namely frontier, targeted, strategic, applied and close to market.
The European Charter for Researchers aims at strengthening the European Research Area, by contributing to the development of an attractive, open and sustainable European labour market for researchers where the framework conditions allow for recruiting and retaining high calibre researchers.
The objective of the Charter is to ensure that the nature of the relationship between researchers and employers or funders is conducive to successful performance in generating, transferring, sharing and disseminating knowledge and technological development, and to the career development of researchers.
The Charter also recognises the value of all forms of mobility as a means for enhancing the professional development of researchers. In this sense, it constitutes a framework for researchers, employers and funders which invites them to act responsibly and as professionals within their working environment, and to recognise each other as such.
The Charter addresses all researchers in the European Union at all stages of their career, across all sectors and disciplines, irrespective of the nature of the appointment or employment, the legal status of their employer or the type of organisation or establishment in which the work is carried out. It takes into account the multiple roles of researchers, who are appointed not only to conduct research and/or to carry out development activities, but are also involved in supervision, mentoring, management or administrative tasks.
More information
The European Charter for Researchers (2023):
The Charter & Code (2005):
Download the brochures on the Charter & Code in multiple languages.