Investigation Commission for Scientific Misconduct

German universities have committed themselves to investigate every concrete suspicion of scientific misconduct. This is intended to ensure that scientific activity and results can be reproduced and that they have been achieved without violating the rights of other persons. Scientific misconduct is defined as the conscious or grossly negligent use of false information, the violation of the intellectual property of others, or compromising the research activities of another person in any other form, within a context relevant to science (Statute on the Safeguarding of Good Academic Practice at TU Berlin of 8 March 2017).

In suspected cases of scientific misconduct, the contact person is primarily the Ombudsperson. At the same time, persons seeking advice may directly refer to members of the Investigation Committee. In substantiated cases, an investigation procedure will be initiated. According to the results of this investigation, the President then decides which measures will be taken.