Research funding from the tobacco industry policy

Procedure

Intent and objectives

To ensure that research staff and research students at RMIT University have a clear understanding of the University’s position on (not) accepting research funding from the Tobacco Industry.

Objectives

To ensure that research undertaken by the university is ethically sound and is consistent with the responses made by other institutions within the Australian higher education sector.

Scope

The policy applies to all academic/research staff and research students at RMIT University.

Exclusions

Not applicable

Provisions

The university will not accept funding from the tobacco industry for health and health-related research.

The university will not accept funding from the tobacco industry for non-health related research, except in exceptional circumstances.

The acceptance of any funding from the tobacco industry for non-health related research requires the prior approval of the Council, and only if the university retain responsibility for, and control over, the publishing of the research results.

Staff wishing to apply for funding from the tobacco industry – for non-health related research – should initially discuss the potential application with the Pro Vice-Chancellor (Research and Innovation), prior to making any submission.

For the purpose of this policy, the tobacco industry comprises individual companies, or their component parts, whose primary business is the manufacture, distribution, promotion and sale of tobacco and related products. Funds derived indirectly from the tobacco industry, in the form of taxes and duties, and then redistributed as targeted funding, would not fall within the scope of this policy.

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