Code of Ethics for the Research and Development (R&D) Cell

  1. Integrity and Honesty: All research activities shall be conducted with the highest level of integrity, transparency, and honesty, avoiding fabrication, falsification, and plagiarism.
  2. Accountability: Researchers are responsible for the validity, reliability, and originality of their work, including proper documentation, accurate data reporting, and acknowledging contributions.
  3. Respect for Intellectual Property Rights: Researchers must respect copyrights, patents, and other intellectual property rights. Proper citation and acknowledgment of prior work is mandatory.
  4. Compliance with Laws and Institutional Policies: All research must comply with applicable laws, regulations, and institutional policies, including ethical guidelines for experiments involving humans and animals.
  5. Confidentiality: Sensitive information obtained during the research process must be kept confidential unless there is explicit consent or legal obligation to disclose it.
  6. Avoidance of Conflict of Interest: Researchers must disclose any financial or personal interests that could affect the objectivity or outcome of the research.
  7. Fair Authorship Practices: Authorship should accurately reflect individual contributions to the research. Ghostwriting and honorary authorship are strictly prohibited.
  8. Ethical Use of Resources: Institutional resources, grants, and research funds should be used judiciously and solely for the purpose intended.
  9. Respect for Participants and the Environment: Researchers must ensure the dignity, rights, safety, and well-being of research participants and minimize any potential environmental harm.
  10. Commitment to Quality and Continuous Improvement: The R&D Cell encourages ongoing learning, constructive peer review, and continuous improvement in research practices.
  11. Encouragement of Collaborative Research: Collaboration across disciplines, institutions, and industries must be conducted respectfully, ethically, and with clear mutual agreements.
  12. Reporting Misconduct: The R&D Cell shall establish a mechanism for reporting and addressing research misconduct confidentially and fairly.