Freedom of Research
"Researchers should focus their research on the benefit of humanity and the extension of the frontiers of scientific knowledge, while enjoying freedom of thought and expression and the freedom to determine methods for the solution of problems, in accordance with recognized ethical principles and practices.
Researchers should nevertheless recognize the limits to this freedom that may arise from particular research circumstances (including supervision, guidance and management) or operational constraints, for example for budgetary or infrastructure reasons or, particularly in the industrial sector, for reasons of intellectual property protection.
Such limitations should not, however, conflict with recognized ethical principles and practices to which researchers must adhere". (extract from the Charter for European researchers)
