Conflict of Interest Policy

Journal of Sustainable Smart Technologies (JSST)

Introduction

The Journal of Sustainable Smart Technologies (JSST) is committed to maintaining the highest standards of integrity, transparency, objectivity, and ethical conduct in scholarly publishing.

A Conflict of Interest (COI) exists when professional judgment concerning a primary interest, such as the validity of research, may be influenced by a secondary interest, including financial, personal, institutional, professional, or academic relationships.

JSST requires authors, reviewers, editors, and editorial board members to disclose any actual, potential, or perceived conflicts of interest that could affect the publication process.

Purpose

The purpose of this policy is to:

  • Promote transparency in scholarly publishing.
  • Maintain the credibility of published research.
  • Protect the integrity of the peer review process.
  • Ensure objective editorial decision-making.
  • Prevent undue influence on research evaluation and publication.

Conflict of Interest for Authors

Authors must disclose any financial, professional, institutional, or personal relationships that may influence the research, interpretation, or presentation of findings.

Examples include:

Financial Interests

  • Research funding
  • Grants and sponsorships
  • Consulting fees
  • Employment relationships
  • Stock ownership
  • Patents and patent applications
  • Royalties
  • Commercial affiliations

Professional and Institutional Interests

  • Collaborations with organizations benefiting from the research
  • Institutional relationships that may affect objectivity
  • Advisory or board memberships

Personal Relationships

  • Family relationships
  • Personal associations
  • Close professional relationships that could influence research outcomes

Authors must disclose all relevant conflicts within the manuscript during submission.

If no conflicts exist, authors should declare:

"The authors declare that they have no known competing financial, professional, or personal interests that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper/manuscript/article."

Conflict of Interest for Reviewers

Reviewers must disclose any conflicts that may affect their ability to provide an impartial evaluation.

Reviewers should decline review assignments if they:

  • Have collaborated with the authors.
  • Have personal relationships with the authors.
  • Are employed by the same institution as the authors.
  • Have competing research interests.
  • Have financial interests related to the research.

Reviewers must not use confidential information obtained during peer review for personal, professional, or commercial advantage.

Conflict of Interest for Editors

Editors must ensure that editorial decisions are based solely on scholarly merit, originality, quality, and relevance.

Editors shall recuse themselves from handling manuscripts when:

  • They are authors or co-authors of the manuscript.
  • They have personal relationships with the authors.
  • They have financial interests related to the research.
  • They have institutional affiliations that could compromise impartiality.
  • Any other circumstances exist that may create bias or the appearance of bias.

In such cases, the manuscript shall be assigned to another qualified editor.

Editorial Board Members

Editorial Board Members are expected to:

  • Disclose conflicts of interest.
  • Avoid participating in decisions where conflicts exist.
  • Maintain confidentiality.
  • Uphold the integrity of the review process.

Membership on the Editorial Board does not guarantee acceptance of manuscripts.

All submissions undergo the same editorial and peer review process.

Funding Disclosure

Authors must disclose all sources of funding that supported the research.

Funding disclosures should include:

  • Funding agency name
  • Grant number (if applicable)
  • Institutional support
  • Sponsorship details

Funding information helps readers assess potential influences on the research.

Management of Conflicts

When conflicts of interest are identified, JSST may:

  • Require additional disclosures.
  • Assign alternative reviewers or editors.
  • Request clarification from authors.
  • Publish conflict disclosures alongside articles.
  • Reject manuscripts if conflicts compromise research integrity.

The Editorial Board reserves the right to determine the appropriate course of action.

Failure to Disclose Conflicts

Failure to disclose relevant conflicts of interest may result in:

  • Manuscript rejection.
  • Withdrawal of accepted manuscripts.
  • Publication of corrections.
  • Retraction of published articles.
  • Notification of affiliated institutions where appropriate.

The journal treats nondisclosure of significant conflicts as a serious breach of publication ethics.

Transparency and Ethical Publishing

JSST believes that transparency regarding competing interests strengthens scientific integrity and public trust in research.

The journal encourages honest and complete disclosure by all participants involved in the publication process.

Alignment with Sustainable Research

As a journal dedicated to sustainable technologies and innovation, JSST promotes ethical, transparent, and responsible research practices that contribute to the achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly:

  • SDG 7 – Affordable and Clean Energy
  • SDG 9 – Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
  • SDG 11 – Sustainable Cities and Communities
  • SDG 12 – Responsible Consumption and Production
  • SDG 13 – Climate Action

Contact Information

Editor-in-Chief
Journal of Sustainable Smart Technologies (JSST)
Website: https://jsstjournal.com
Email: editor@jsstjournal.com