Conflict of interest policy
Independent research depends on managing competing interests openly. This policy sets out how we identify, declare and handle conflicts across our work.
This policy is effective from 12 May 2026 and applies to everyone who contributes to our research: staff, fellows, external reviewers, trustees, advisers and contractors. It supports our research independence and editorial standards.
What we mean by a conflict of interest
A conflict of interest is any financial, professional or personal interest that could reasonably be seen to influence — or to have influenced — the design, conduct, review or reporting of research. The test is not whether judgement was actually affected, but whether a reasonable observer might think it could have been.
Declaration
Everyone contributing to a study is asked to declare relevant interests at the outset and to update the declaration if circumstances change. Declarable interests include, among others:
- funding, consultancy, employment or board membership connected to the subject of the research;
- financial holdings that could be affected by the findings;
- close personal or professional relationships with parties who have a stake in the outcome;
- prior public positions that could bear on the appearance of impartiality.
How we manage conflicts
A declared interest is not, in itself, a barrier to taking part. What matters is that it is disclosed and managed proportionately. Depending on the circumstances, we may:
- record the interest and note it in the published work;
- assign an independent reviewer or a second analyst to the affected part of the study;
- ask an individual to recuse themselves from specific decisions; or
- in serious cases, remove them from the project altogether.
Funders and commissioning parties
Funding never confers control over findings. Every publication discloses who funded it, and our funding transparency policy explains how that disclosure works. Commissioned market research is kept separate from our published research under our commercial research policy.
Peer reviewers and advisers
External reviewers are asked to decline a review where they have a competing interest, and advisers recuse themselves from matters in which they are conflicted. Reviewer identities and any managed interests are recorded internally.
Trustees and governance
Trustees maintain a register of interests and step back from decisions in which they have a personal or financial stake. Our governance arrangements set out how the board oversees this.
Raising a concern
If you believe an interest has not been properly declared or managed, contact us at governance@internationalresearchinstitute.org or through our contact page. We treat such concerns seriously and confidentially.