Ethics is a fundamental part of Sapienza's scientific mission. All research activities must be conducted with rigour, responsibility and transparency, respecting human dignity, fundamental rights and national and international regulations.

To ensure these principles are upheld, Sapienza has set up the Ethics Committee for Transdisciplinary Research (CERT), a body responsible for assessing the ethical compliance of research projects. CERT examines research protocols involving people, sensitive data or potentially risky activities, issuing ethical opinions and providing guidance for project review. 

The CERT's responsibilities also include the assessment of dual-use research, i.e. research that can have both civil and military applications. The CERT is supported by a Dual-Use Panel, which provides specialist advice and promotes training and awareness on the subject. In this regard, Sapienza has adopted specific guidelines on dual-use research, implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/821 and Recommendation (EU) 2021/1700. The guidelines provide for internal compliance measures, due diligence procedures and monitoring tools to ensure that scientific collaborations — particularly with partners from non-EU countries — are carried out in compliance with human rights and international standards.

With these structures and tools, Sapienza promotes a culture of scientific responsibility, in which ethics is not just a formal requirement but a shared value that guides every stage of the research process: from design to dissemination of results, for the benefit of the academic community and society.