Conflict of Interest and Confidentiality for Review Committee Members, External Reviewers, and Observers

The following compliance measures have been in use by NSERC committees for several years. These measures do not necessarily respond to all possible situations, and the Council relies on the judgment of committee members in developing measures that resolve real, potential, or apparent conflicts of interest in the public interest.

I. Council

Council members are subject to certain provisions of the Conflict of Interest Act, to NSERC By-Law II and to the Code of Ethics and Business Conduct for NSERC Council Members. When the Council acts as a selection committee, NSERC’s Conflict of Interest and Confidentiality Policy of the Federal Research Funding Organizations (Section III below) apply.

Council members must sign the Declaration for NSERC Council Members before joining the Council.

II. Standing Committees

Members of NSERC’s policy-making committee, the Committee on Discovery Research (CDR) and the Committee on Research Partnerships (CRP) are subject to NSERC’s Code of Ethics and Business Conduct for Members of NSERC Standing and Advisory Committees. When CDR or CRP acts as a selection committee, the Conflict of Interest and Confidentiality Policy of the Federal Research Funding Organizations (Section III below) apply.

Members of CDR, CRP or any other advisory committee must sign the Conflict of Interest and Confidentiality Agreement for Review Committee Members, External Reviewers, and Observers before joining those committees.

III. Evaluation Groups, Selection Committees and Panels (Grants, Scholarships, Fellowships and Prizes)

Selection committee members are subject to the Conflict of Interest and Confidentiality Policy of the Federal Research Funding Organizations and must sign the Conflict of Interest and Confidentiality Agreement for Review Committee Members, External Reviewers, and Observers before joining the selection committee.

March 2013