You have been invited to take part in an online survey by the Horizon 2020 project S4D4C. Before making a decision on whether you want to participate or not, we invite you to read these lines carefully. Please ask all the questions you may have (contact@s4d4c.eu).
The Horizon 2020 guidelines on research ethics define ethical standards for research carried out in Horizon 2020 projects. These include standards on privacy and data management. In compliance with these standards, we are happy to
- provide the necessary information on the project
- provide information on the necessary informed consent
Information on the project
The objective of the S4D4C project is to support current and future EU science diplomacy for the benefit of the Union’s strategic capacities, foreign policy goals and the development of solutions for societal challenges. In order to achieve this, S4D4C brings together scholars of foreign and science policy, advisors, science diplomacy professionals and diplomatic training institutions. We analyse cases of EU science diplomacy that relate to foreign policy goals, relevant EU-level instruments and important scientific developments.
Data acquisition in the project will consist of surveys, questionnaires, interviews and focus groups. More details on the project can be found on the various pages of this website.
Data protection
Responses you give in S4D4C surveys will be recorded and stored on secure servers. Your recorded data will not include any personal identification; hence it will not be possible to identify you as the source of information. Data will be processed for scientific purposes during the phase of data analysis. Data will be shown in project reports, scientific journal publications, conference presentations or other project-related outputs in anonymised form only. Results may be used in further studies. Nothing of the provided personal data will be handed out to third parties.
Informed consent
Your participation in this study is voluntary. You can choose not to participate or to leave the survey at any point. However, once you submit your completed survey, there will be no way to withdraw your responses from the study because the survey contains no identifying information.
By participating in this online survey, you confirm that:
- your are 18 years or older and competent to provide consent;
- you have read the above information about this research and this informed consent procedure.
- you have been fully informed about the aims and purposes of the S4D4C Project.
- you have been given the opportunity to ask questions regarding the purpose of the study.
- you understand that your participation is fully anonymous and that no personal details about you will be recorded.
- you agree that your data collected in the survey is used for scientific purposes and that you have no objection that your data is published in project-related publications in a way that does not reveal your identity;
- Information may be shared between any of the other researcher(s) and partners participating in this project in an anonymous form. All information you give will be treated as confidential.
This consent form is made pursuant to the relevant national, European and international data protection laws and regulations and personal data treatment obligations. Specifically this consent document complies with the EU General Data Protection Regulation (2016/679) on the protection of natural persons with regard to the processing of personal data and on the free movement of such data.