Conflict of Interest Policy (Editors & Reviewers)

Conflict of Interest Policy (Editors & Reviewers)

The Journal of Next-Generation Research 5.0 (JNGR 5.0) is committed to maintaining the highest standards of transparency, integrity, and objectivity in scholarly publishing. This policy defines how conflicts of interest (COIs) are identified, disclosed, and managed for editors and reviewers.

A conflict of interest exists when professional judgment concerning a manuscript may be influenced, or perceived to be influenced, by secondary interests.

Scope of the Policy

This policy applies to:

  • Editor-in-Chief

  • Associate Editors

  • Managing and Technical Editors

  • Review Coordinators

  • Peer Reviewers

Definition of Conflict of Interest

A conflict of interest may be actual, potential, or perceived and includes, but is not limited to:

Financial Conflicts

  • Employment, consultancy, honoraria, or funding from organizations related to the manuscript content

  • Ownership of stocks, shares, or patents related to the research topic

Professional or Academic Conflicts

  • Current or recent collaboration with the author(s)

  • Supervisory or mentoring relationships

  • Competitive or adversarial academic relationships

Institutional Conflicts

  • Affiliation with the same institution as the author(s)

  • Participation in the same research project or grant

Personal Conflicts

  • Family relationships, close friendships, or personal disputes with the author(s)

Responsibilities of Editors

Disclosure

Editors must disclose any actual or potential conflict of interest as soon as it is identified.

Recusal

Editors must recuse themselves from handling a manuscript if:

  • They have a conflict of interest with any author

  • They are co-authors, collaborators, or supervisors of the author(s)

  • They could benefit directly or indirectly from the publication outcome

In such cases, the manuscript will be reassigned to an independent editor.

Editorial Integrity

Editors must ensure that:

  • Editorial decisions are based solely on scholarly merit

  • Article Processing Charges (APCs) do not influence editorial judgment

  • Confidential information is not used for personal or professional advantage

Responsibilities of Reviewers

Disclosure

Reviewers are required to:

  • Declare any conflict of interest before accepting a review invitation

  • Inform the editorial office if a conflict arises during the review process

Declining Reviews

Reviewers must decline to review a manuscript if:

  • A conflict of interest exists

  • They cannot provide an objective and unbiased evaluation

  • Confidentiality cannot be assured

Confidentiality

Reviewers must:

  • Treat all manuscripts as confidential documents

  • Not share, discuss, or use unpublished material for personal benefit

Management of Conflicts of Interest

JNGR 5.0 manages conflicts of interest by:

  • Reassigning manuscripts to independent editors or reviewers

  • Excluding conflicted individuals from editorial decisions

  • Documenting disclosures and actions taken

  • Ensuring transparency throughout the editorial process

Failure to disclose a conflict of interest may result in removal from editorial or reviewer roles.

Transparency and Accountability

  • COI disclosures are handled confidentially

  • Editors and reviewers are expected to comply with this policy at all times

  • Alleged breaches are investigated by the editorial leadership

Alignment with Ethical Standards

This policy is aligned with ethical principles promoted by:

  • Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE)

  • International best practices in scholarly publishing

Contact

For questions regarding conflicts of interest or to report a potential conflict, please contact:

editor@jngr5.com