Ethics & Integrity Framework

The International Research Council (IRC) is committed to advancing scientific excellence, interdisciplinary collaboration, and technological progress anchored in the highest standards of research ethics, academic integrity, and responsible governance.

Core Pillars of Research Integrity

1. Honesty & Accuracy

• Data Fidelity: All research data, analyses, and outcomes must be recorded and reported with absolute precision and honesty.

• Prohibition of Misconduct: IRC maintains zero tolerance for Fabrication, Falsification, and Plagiarism (FFP) in any published or submitted work.

• Transparent Methodology: Researchers are required to share methodology details transparently to facilitate peer review, validation, and reproducibility.

2. Objectivity & Conflict of Interest (CoI)

• Full Disclosure: Authors, reviewers, and committee members must declare all potential, perceived, or actual financial, personal, or institutional conflicts of interest.

• Unbiased Evaluation: Peer review and editorial processes are conducted with strict double-blind or transparent peer-review protocols to ensure objective evaluation.

3. Accountability & Stewardship

• Public & Institutional Trust: Scholars are accountable to the scientific community, funding organizations, and the public for the safety, accuracy, and societal impact of their work.

• Resource Responsibility: Ethical management of research grants, equipment, and institutional facilities is strictly mandated.

4. Respect for Human & Animal Subjects

• Human Participant Protections: All research involving human subjects must comply with international standards (e.g., the Declaration of Helsinki), requiring prior review by an Institutional Review Board (IRB) / Independent Ethics Committee (IEC), along with informed consent.

• Animal Welfare: Research involving animal subjects must adhere to international 3R principles (Replace, Reduce, Refine) and gain approval from an Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC).

Authorship & Peer-Review Guidelines

Authorship Criteria

To qualify as an author on IRC-affiliated publications or conference proceedings, individuals must satisfy all four criteria:

1. Substantial contributions to the conception, design, acquisition, or analysis of data.

2. Drafting or revising the intellectual content critically.

3. Approval of the final version to be published.

4. Agreement to be accountable for all aspects of the work.

Note: Administrative support, language editing, or general supervision alone do not constitute authorship and should be acknowledged separately.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) Policy

• AI Tool Usage: Generative AI tools (e.g., ChatGPT, Claude, LLMs) cannot be listed as authors or co-authors.

• Disclosure Required: The use of AI tools in data processing, code generation, or manuscript drafting must be explicitly disclosed in the methodology or acknowledgments section.

Allegation & Whistleblower Policy

The IRC provides a secure, confidential mechanism for reporting suspected research misconduct, unethical review practices, or conflict-of-interest violations.

• Confidential Reporting: Allegations can be submitted directly to the IRC Ethics Officer.

• Protection Against Retaliation: The IRC guarantees full protection to whistleblowers acting in good faith.

• Due Process: All reported incidents undergo a preliminary assessment followed by an independent formal inquiry if warranted.