Conflict of Interest Policy

The journal Smart Economy, Entrepreneurship and Security implements and maintains a comprehensive policy for the prevention, identification, and management of conflicts of interest in accordance with the recommendations of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE), the principles of the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE), and the COPE Principles of Transparency and Best Practice in Scholarly Publishing.

Definition of Conflict of Interest

A conflict of interest is defined as any financial, professional, institutional, or personal relationship that could influence, or be perceived to influence, the objectivity, impartiality, or independence of participants in the publication process, including authors, reviewers, and editors. Such circumstances may include research funding, participation in commercial projects, institutional affiliations, collaborative relationships, personal or professional connections, and academic competition.

Disclosure of Conflicts of Interest

All participants in the publication process are required to disclose any actual or potential conflicts of interest. Authors must provide a declaration of conflicts of interest at the time of manuscript submission, disclosing all relevant financial and non-financial relationships in accordance with ICMJE recommendations, and confirming the accuracy of the information provided. Reviewers are required to inform the Editorial Board of any potential conflicts prior to accepting a review assignment and to decline participation if such conflicts exist. Editors must disclose conflicts of interest and recuse themselves from editorial decisions where appropriate.

Management of Conflicts of Interest

When a conflict of interest is identified, the Editorial Board takes appropriate measures to ensure the independence and objectivity of the review and decision-making process. This may include the recusal of the affected editor or reviewer, the appointment of an independent handling editor, and the selection of unbiased reviewers. All actions and decisions are documented in the editorial system in accordance with principles of transparency and accountability.

Submissions by Editors and Editorial Board Members

Manuscripts submitted by editors or members of the Editorial Board are handled through a separate process to ensure full independence. Such individuals are excluded from any involvement in the editorial process related to their own submissions, which are evaluated by independent editors and reviewers in accordance with COPE recommendations.

Disclosure in Publications

Each published article must include a statement disclosing any conflicts of interest or confirming their absence. Where a conflict exists, authors are required to clearly describe its nature to ensure transparency and trust in the research findings.

Documentation and Transparency

The Editorial Board ensures the proper retention of conflict of interest declarations, documentation of decisions related to conflict management, and the possibility of internal audit of editorial processes, in line with best practices in scholarly publishing.

Policy Violations

In cases where undisclosed conflicts of interest are identified, the Editorial Board acts in accordance with COPE guidelines. Depending on the circumstances, actions may include requesting clarification, requiring corrections, rejecting the manuscript, or initiating retraction procedures.