Moved by
Lord Sikka
23: After Clause 4, insert the following new Clause—
“Research grant funding and academic integrity
After section A7 of the Higher Education and Research Act 2017 (inserted by section 4) insert—
“A8 Research grant funding and academic integrity
(1) The provision of grant funding for research shall not be used as a means of interfering with the freedom for academics—
(a) to publish and disseminate their research; or
(b) to decide on the final form and academic integrity of such research.
(2) Unless the conditions in subsection (3) apply, no contractual or other provision in a funding agreement that gives editing or publishing control to the funder shall be enforceable by law.
(3) The conditions referred to in subsection (2) are—
(a) that a court finds the full publication of the research would threaten national security, public safety, or health; or
(b) the contracting parties to a research funding arrangement agree confidentiality of results in advance.””
Member’s explanatory statement
This amendment reduces the ability of public, private or philanthropic funders of academic research to infringe upon academic integrity and the freedom to publish results. Contractual attempts at interference with academic expression will be unenforceable, unless confidentiality of research was agreed in advance or where a court finds a national security, public safety or health justification for preventing publication.