Fraunhofer Institute for Surface Engineering and Thin Films ISTGood scientific practice
Scientific integrity and the observance of principles of good scientific practice are essential prerequisites for scientific work. For the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft as an organization of applied research, these principles form the basis of its self-image. A high level of care and awareness when it comes to the scientific method and in documenting data is also the basis for the trust of business clients and the public.
This is why the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft welcomes the recommendations of the commission ‘Self-regulation in Science’ by the member institutes of the German Research Foundation (DFG) and is implementing these within the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft. The principles of good scientific practice are also part of the Fraunhofer mission statement.
Essential principles of good scientific practice are
- The contribution of independent ideas
- Awareness of the state of the art
- Appreciation of the intellectual property of others
- Objectivity and critical distance to own results
- Traceability through documentation and archiving of data and results
Dr. Kai Ortner and Dr. Kristina Lachmann as deputy are the ombudspersons of the Fraunhofer IST for advice and support in questions of good scientific practice. The Fraunhofer organizational instructions for safeguarding the scientific integrity and the recommendations of the German Research Foundation form the basis of their work.