Conflict of interest management

Conflict of interest overview

In promoting industry-government-academia collaboration, it is expected that the university and faculty members will receive legitimate benefits from specific companies, etc., and will assume necessary responsibilities to specific companies, etc. On the other hand, there may be cases where the benefits and responsibilities that faculty members have in their relationships with companies, etc. clash with their responsibilities at the university. Such situations are known as "conflicts of interests."
In order to fulfill our mission of contributing to society through industry-academia-government collaboration, it is essential that we maintain transparency to society and manage our activities appropriately to avoid any suspicion of a conflict of interest from society.

Conflict of interest management (Guidelines for strengthening collaborative research through industry-academia-government collaboration)

  • Types of conflicts of interest

    A. Conflict of interest broadly defined
    A concept that includes both the narrow definition of conflict of interest (B) and conflict of responsibility (C).

    B. Conflict of interest in the narrow sense
    A situation in which the benefits that faculty members or the university gain from industry-academia-government collaboration activities (royalties from patent licenses, compensation for working part-time, acquisition of unlisted stocks, etc.) conflict with or are in conflict with the university's responsibilities of education and research.

    C. Conflicting Responsibilities
    A situation in which a faculty member is responsible for the performance of duties at a company or other entity, mainly through a part-time job, and is unable to balance their responsibilities for the performance of their duties at the university with their responsibilities for the company or other entity.

    D. Personal Conflicts of Interest
    Conflict of interest in the narrow sense (B) - a conflict between the interests of an individual faculty member and his/her responsibilities to the university

    E. University Conflicts of Interest
    Conflict of interest in the narrow sense (B): Conflict between the interests of the university and its social responsibilities

  • Case Study

    Case (1)
    Professor A received an offer from startup company B, in which he is involved in management, to carry out contract research on the development of new technology.
    [Points to note]
    When faculty members are commissioned to conduct research by a company with which they are involved, they must self-declare this to the Conflict of Interest Management Committee. In order to ensure the transparency and fairness of research that directly benefits their own company, the university must provide appropriate management and supervision.
    Case (2)
    Professor C provides technology developed by his research group to Company D under a license agreement. As part of the agreement, Professor C receives remuneration from Company D.
    [Points to note]
    When faculty members license their research results to a company, they must self-report to the Conflict of Interest Management Committee. In order to promote the use of research results and ensure the transparency and fairness of transactions, the university must provide appropriate management and supervision.

University Structure and Regulations

The University has established the Conflict of Interest Management Committee under the "Aoyama Gakuin University Conflict of Interest Management Regulations" for the purpose of sound promotion of industry-government-academia collaborative activities and to contribute to the smooth implementation of research and educational activities by faculty members and others, and is committed to appropriate conflict of interest management related to research and education at the University.

Aoyama Gakuin University Conflict of Interest Management Rules

Application procedures, etc. (for researchers at this university)

If any faculty or staff member of the University is found to be, or may be, subject to conflict of interest management in their research or educational activities, please submit a Conflict of Interest Self-Declaration Form*.
For details regarding the application, please see the Aoyama Gakuin University Information Website for Researchers below.
* In principle, please use the detailed version. If the item listed in the detailed version does not apply to you, please use the summary version.

Aoyama Gakuin University Researcher Information Web

日本語
English
한국어
简体中文
ภาษาไทย
Translated by AI