Researchers at the House of Finance are aware that contacts or activities outside of the university can lead to potential conflicts of interests. These conflicts cannot be avoided alltogether. Contacts to representatives from politics and industry as well as access to real life data received in connection with research conducted for external partners, research cooperations, and/or scientific consultancy are extremely valuable for scholars. Furthermore, academic research depends on third party funding – not least because being successful in raising funds is regarded as an indicator of quality.

Within all contacts to politics or industry, freedom of research must always be maintained. The state supports science as an independent authority that serves society with its research results. Free and independent research is indispensible for the general public to trust in science and its output. Therefore, Goethe University obliges its scholars to comply with its policy regarding good scientific practice. With respect to private donations, foundations, and sponsoring the code of conduct of Goethe University for accepting private third party donations applies. According to these guidelines, the acceptance of private contributions is attached to the freedom of research and teaching as well as the independence of Goethe University from economic or other particular interests.