Conflict of Interest Policy

This Conflict of Interest Policy governs the handling of existing, potential, and perceived conflicts of interest within the IQVerse platform. It applies to all users who participate as authors, co-authors, experts, reviewers, or editorial staff members in the creation, review, or publication of articles.

IQVerse is committed to the highest standards of scientific integrity and transparency. The disclosure of conflicts of interest serves to protect the credibility of all content and the platform as a whole.

A conflict of interest exists when the personal, professional, financial, or other interests of a participant could influence the objectivity, completeness, or impartiality of a scientific assessment, review, or editorial decision — regardless of whether actual influence occurs.

2.1 Financial Interests

• Employment relationships, consulting activities, or remuneration from organizations thematically related to the article
• Equity holdings, patents, licensing agreements, or other proprietary rights
• Grants, scholarships, or financial support from relevant institutions

2.2 Non-Financial Interests

• Personal relationships with authors whose articles are being reviewed
• Existing scientific rivalries or ongoing collaborations
• Membership in political, religious, or ideological organizations with thematic relevance
• Professional competitive situations

3.1 For Authors

Authors are required to disclose all relevant conflicts of interest upon submission of an article. Disclosure takes place during the submission process and is made available to the editorial team and reviewers.

3.2 For Reviewers (Experts)

Experts who claim an article for review must first assess whether a conflict of interest exists. If such a conflict exists or cannot be ruled out, the review assignment must be declined. The platform already systematically prevents self-review of one's own articles.

3.3 For Co-Authors

Co-authors are subject to the same disclosure obligations as primary authors. In particular, any existing professional or personal relationship with the primary author must be disclosed.

1. Disclosure: The affected person reports the conflict immediately via editorial notes or by email to the editorial team.
2. Assessment: The editorial team evaluates the reported conflict regarding its nature, severity, and potential impact on objectivity.
3. Measures: Depending on the assessment, the following actions may be taken:
   • Documentation of the conflict without further action (for minor conflicts)
   • Reassignment of the article to a different reviewer
   • Transparent disclosure of the conflict in the published article
   • Exclusion of the affected person from participation
4. Documentation: All reported conflicts of interest and the decisions made in response are recorded in the platform's audit log.

IQVerse implements the following system-level safeguards:

• Authors cannot review their own articles
• Expert assignments are processed sequentially to avoid parallel editing conflicts
• All edits are logged in an audit-proof manner (timestamp, IP address, editor)
• The four-eyes principle is ensured through the multi-stage review chain (Author → Expert → Editorial Team)

Violations of the disclosure obligation may result in the following consequences, depending on severity:

• Retroactive labeling of the article with a conflict of interest notice
• Revocation of expert verification
• Temporary or permanent suspension of the user account
• Retraction of the publication

All information obtained during the review and assessment process — in particular unpublished article content and editorial notes — must be treated as confidential. Disclosure to unauthorized third parties is prohibited.

This policy is reviewed regularly and updated as necessary. Changes will be communicated to affected users in an appropriate manner. The law of the Federal Republic of Germany applies.