Horizon Europe, the EU’s research and innovation framework program for 2021–2027, builds on Horizon 2020 (2014–2020) with a number of updates in ethics assessment. While the ethical principles guiding research remain rooted in the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights and the European Convention on Human Rights and its Supplementary Protocols as well as the European Code of Conduct for Research Integrity, the Horizon Europe program introduces several novelties and refinements in how ethics are assessed and integrated into research. Here are the key novelties:

• Artificial intelligence has been introduced as a new ethics issue and added to the Ethics Issues Table, which is a part of the project proposal application form. On the other hand, dual use and exclusive focus on civil application are no longer a part of the Table and are not to be assessed by the ethics reviewers. For dual use, the declaration by the applicant is sufficient and exclusive focus on civil application aspects are verified by scientific evaluators. Misuse as cross-cutting issue is now a part of the Security Issues Table.
• The ethics appraisal process has become more risk-based and focused on the serious and complex ethics issues.
• Increased focus on continuous ethics monitoring and guidance throughout the project lifecycle, not just at the start. That’s why engaging an External independent ethics advisor or a board is often an ethics requirement.
• New element introduced - Ethics by Design: A proactive rather than reactive approach—ethics integrated from the start.

Stay tuned to see what will the successor to Horizon Europe, currently called Framework Programme 10 (FP10) bring in terms of ethics. It is expected to begin in January 2028 and discussions about its structure and priorities are already underway.