Our mission and vision

Based on IBEC’s mission and vision, our values were identified and defined by the “From values to excellence” project, an action within the framework of the Human Resources Strategy for Researchers according to the European Charter and Code.

It was a participatory process in which several interdisciplinary working groups, made up of management, researchers of all levels and support staff, met between October and November 2016 to identify and define, based on their perception and experience, the values that make the institute unique.

These values help to guide the choices and decisions that our researchers make in their working life.

• Collaboration
  Collaboration in the sense of mutual and constant support. Collaboration entails feeling secure, backed and well-represented, and is present at all professional levels, regardless of hierarchy. It means being service-oriented both internally and externally, and predisposed to integrating knowledge and resources for the common good.
• Creativity
  Creativity is behind the initiatives and research proposals that lead IBEC to succeed and gain international recognition. Creativity stems from curiosity, and is the ability to move outside our comfort zones, valuing and integrating what already exists to transform it into something original that otherwise could not exist.
  Creativity is also seen in the integration of different talents and resources to achieve innovative and high-impact results.
• Respect
  Respect is the basis of collaborative work, relying on acceptance and listening to  differences, and allowing both a prejudice-free focus and an approach that’s open to various ideas, as well as building strong and enriching relationships.
• Perseverance
  Perseverance is the constant pursuit of realistic high performance, keeping the focus on individual and corporate motivation and continuous learning to make processes, results and resources sustainable over time.
  It relies on understanding the demands of our positions, knowing how to value both internal and external resources, and turning efforts into a source of positive satisfaction.
• (Scientific and social) Responsibility
  Responsibility is commitment to the profession, and thus acting according to principles of good faith, integrity, honesty and transparent communication, seeking and maintaining an ethical code of clear behavior, and adhering to best practices in science. It is based on the individual assuming the consequences of decisions he or she makes, being aware of and responsible for them, and reporting them where necessary. It makes scientific freedom possible, and helps us stay reliable and relevant in the research world.
• Interdisciplinarity
  Our interdisciplinary working environment relies on multi-talented, versatile individuals. It also reflects the ability to contribute  from different perspectives, integrating knowledge at both group and individual level.
  It is based on the ability to function in more areas than those mastered thanks to training and continuous development, helping to create an adaptable and flexible system which is capable of achieving excellent results even with limited resources.
• Openness
  Externally, openness means explaining, making things understood and establishing a trusting relationship with partners, employees and society, acting openly and accurately in the delivery and communication of both scientific and non-scientific results.
  Internally, openness ensures the consistency and consequence of our own decisions, identifying a frame of reference that enables understanding.

The IBEC Code of Conduct for Research Integrity (the Code) is one of the actions within the framework of the Human Resources Strategy for Researchers (HRS4R) according to the European Charter & Code.

The Code is a framework for good research practice, setting the criteria for proper research behavior and establishing an environment conducive to high-quality research, thus ensuring that research is conducted according to international ethical standards.

The Code complements IBEC policies and procedures such as those for health and safety, working conditions, intellectual property, and does not replace them. Its content is complementary to the laws in force.

Together with the promotion of the Code, IBEC wants to take a proactive role providing training to researchers in this respect throughout their careers and raising awareness on the subject, thus preventing future problems.

The Code sets out the ethical standards and standards of research conduct and sets out principles, recommendations and commitments. By making clear the conduct that is expected and considered effective, the Code contributes to an atmosphere of openness.

The most up-to-date version of the Code can be accessed here.

The Code applies to and should be known by all professionals linked to IBEC at all career stages, so please read it carefully.

IBEC’s Commission for Research Integrity

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The Commission for Research Integrity is a body with a double role: on the one hand it has an advisory role; on the other it makes decisions on misconduct cases. Its main responsibilities are:

• To promote and safeguard good research practice at IBEC.
• To promote awareness and training for researchers at all career stages.
• To monitor compliance with the Code and update it regularly.
• To deal with allegations of research misconduct.

Allegations of research misconduct may be communicated by any IBEC member through any means to any member of the Commission for Research Integrity or the Head of the Human Resources Unit. The specific procedure is detailed in the Code.

The members of the Commission are (renewed at 23/03/2023):

Sergi Camacho	Managing Director
Jordi Comelles	Senior researcher, Biomimetic systems for cell engineering
Alba Herrero	PhD student, Molecular imaging for precision medicine
Santiago Marco	Group leader, Targeted therapeutics and nanodevices
Carolina Marí	Head of Human Resources
Nuria Montserrat	Group leader, Pluripotency for organ regeneration group
Silvia Muro	Group leader, Targeted therapeutics and nanodevices group
Josep Samitier	Director
Teresa Sanchis (Secretary of the Commission)	Head of Strategy

Please do not hesitate to contact any member of the Commission for any matter regarding research integrity at IBEC.

IBEC’s research data management policy is a general framework for the management of the research data produced by IBEC. The policy intends to reaffirm the institution’s commitment with open science, specifically in making its research data as open as possible and as closed as necessary, following FAIR principles to make it findable, accessible, interoperable, and reusable for the whole community.

This policy, approved by the Board of Trustees on 29-06-2021, recognizes the fundamental importance of research data and the management of related administrative records in maintaining quality research and scientific integrity, and is committed to pursuing the highest standards, as stated in IBEC’s Code of conduct for research integrity.

IBEC adheres to the CERCA Data Management Strategy, approved on June 3, 2020, with which IBEC’s Research Data Management Policy is aligned. IBEC acknowledges that correct and easily retrievable research data are the foundation of, and integral to, every research project.  Research data have a long-term value for research and academia, as they are necessary for the verification, defense and protection of research processes and results, with the potential for widespread use in society.

The policy applies to and should be known by all professionals linked to IBEC at all career stages, so please read it carefully. The most up-to-date version of the policy can be accessed here.

Please contact datamanagement@ibecbarcelona.eu for any matter regarding research data management at IBEC.

To further strengthen its commitment, IBEC has implemented an Open Science policy aimed at defining the institution’s approach and practices.