ETAG joined the Coalition for Advancing Research Assessment (CoARA) in 2022, expressing its readiness to undertake further concrete actions to promote research assessment reform. By doing so, ETAG committed to developing and updating its assessment practices in line with the principles of responsible research assessment.
ETAG’s assessment system is primarily based on qualitative peer review, and quantitative data are used as supplementary information. Evaluators are guided to focus on the scientific quality of the content of the application and are advised to use publication-based metrics responsibly or, where possible, to refrain from using them altogether.
The principles of CoARA are reflected in ETAG’s grant evaluation processes, as well as in the statutory evaluation of research and development carried out under TAIKS. Evaluation guidelines are regularly updated, experts are systematically guided, and assessment criteria are continuously developed. ETAG actively contributes to international cooperation within CoARA working group and monitors the implementation of reform activities through its Action Plan for 2024–2027.
