Conflict of Interest Policy for Reviewers
As part of its commitment to editorial transparency and ethical peer review, Mechanics and Advanced Technologies adheres to the guidelines of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE). All reviewers are required to declare any potential or actual conflicts of interest that could influence the objectivity or integrity of the peer review process.
Definition of Conflict of Interest
A conflict of interest for reviewers is defined as any situation in which personal, financial, or professional considerations may compromise, or have the appearance of compromising, a reviewer's objectivity. This includes, but is not limited to:
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Current or recent (within the last 3 years) co-authorship with any of the authors;
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Belonging to the same institution or research project as the authors;
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Personal or professional relationships that may affect impartial judgment;
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Financial interests in the research outcomes;
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Any form of competitive, academic, or commercial rivalry.
Reviewer Responsibilities
Before accepting an invitation to review, reviewers must:
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Carefully examine the manuscript title and authorship (if disclosed) to assess potential conflicts;
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Immediately inform the editorial office of any conflicts of interest;
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Decline the review assignment if a conflict prevents objective evaluation.
Editorial Action in Case of Declared Conflict
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If a reviewer declares a conflict of interest, the editor will assign another qualified reviewer.
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If a conflict is discovered after a review has been submitted, the editorial board will evaluate the review’s integrity and may decide to disregard it and request a new review.
Commitment to Ethical Reviewing
Reviewers are expected to uphold the highest standards of ethical conduct and impartiality, as outlined in the COPE Ethical Guidelines for Peer Reviewers.
Contact
If you are unsure whether a conflict of interest exists, or have any concerns regarding the review process, please contact the editorial office at: maat@kpi.ua
