Conflict of interest

In The Swedish Research Council’s guidelines for managing conflicts of interest, Reg. No: 1.2.4-2023-00185, the following examples of disqualifying and potentially disqualifying conflicts of interest are given.

Examples of situations where a conflict of interest typically exists

Examples of situations where a conflict of interest typically exists are:

• When an economic or other dependency circumstance exists. An
  example of the latter is a situation where a person who is a party to a
  matter in another context has the task of assessing the research or
  competency of a person who is taking part in the administration.
• When an ongoing or recently terminated close collaboration exists,
  such as a teacher-student relationship, or a joint research project. The
  relationship between a doctoral student and his/her supervisor is
  considered a conflict of interest situation, regardless of how long ago
  the collaboration occurred.
• When there is evident friendship, enmity or difference of opinion.
• When there is a manager-employee relationship.
• When the person taking part in the administration in another context
  has administered an issue the matter relates to, for example as a
  representative of another public agency or organisation.

Examples of situations where there is a risk of a conflict of interest

Examples of situations where there is a risk of a conflict of interest are:

• When a book or article has been co-authored. As a rule, taking part in
  the administration of a matter should be avoided where research
  collaboration and co-authorship has occurred during the last 5 year
  period. A joint article or a joint chapter in an edited book may be
  enough to establish co-authorship. Co-authorship that occurred more
  than 5 years ago can also constitute a conflict of interest. The
  determining factor will be whether or not it was the result of close
  collaboration, and this must be assessed from case to case.
• When a person taking part in the administration of a matter belongs to
  the same department (particularly small and medium-sized ones) or a
  or a corresponding independent financial entity as a party or other
  persons affected by the matter.
• When the person taking part in the administration is engaged in the
  matter in such a way that a suspicion may arise that the basis for
  impartial assessment is compromised.