IRCAD has received financial support in the form of unrestricted financial support. IRCAD course funding occurs via unrestricted support from IRCAD sponsors (medical device companies). Funding is provided free of any attempt to influence the program, individual sessions, subjects for discussion, content, or choice of faculty members.

The IRCAD training center has permanent industrial and research partners (e.g., Karl Storz, Medtronic, Intuitive Surgical, and other partners depending on surgical specialties). For specific courses, some IRCAD Course Directors, including the President of IRCAD, may have potential conflicts of interest to declare (such as receiving grants, research support, honoraria, consultation fees, participation in a company-sponsored speaker’s bureau, stock ownership, or other support from a specific commercial company).

These industrial partners are never committed to the elaboration or running of the programs, nor in the choice of experts, and there is neither publicity nor promotion in the form of pull-up stands or flyers during these courses.

Faculty Healthcare professionals and Course Directors declare that they are fully committed to maintaining professional autonomy and independence in relation with the medical device industry. The content of IRCAD courses is aimed to promote education among its learners, and IRCAD Course Directors always declare that LEEs are fair, balanced, and free of commercial bias.

Course topics and learning objectives are determined by course planning committees, ensuring that at least two faculty members have no conflict of interest to report and guarantee the impartiality of the course program. Where appropriate, topics reflect current practice. Activities are linked to analyses of learner gaps and other needs, and learning objectives are clearly stated at the beginning.

Evaluation mechanisms include questions to determine whether learners perceived commercial bias in the materials received from IRCAD Faculty. A summary of evaluation forms or feedback report is gathered at the conclusion of each accredited program.

Comprehensive needs assessments are conducted using multiple sources, including surveys, expert opinions, evaluation results from other educational activities, informal discussions and interviews, focus groups, consensus conferences, epidemiological data, new advances in clinical treatments, and thematic analysis of peer-reviewed journals. As a general guiding principle, IRCAD Continuing Education (CE) programs are free of commercial influence, based on best scientific evidence, and focused on improving the knowledge, skills, attitudes, and behavior of learners. IRCAD as a CE provider ensures that faculty deliver current, objective, and scientifically rigorous content.

Scientific program planning committee members oversee needs assessment, program development, compliance with disclosure rules, and overall oversight of the activity. IRCAD CE providers commit themselves to resist any influence or interference that could undermine their professional integrity, and IRCAD Course Directors declare that all marked COIs will not interfere with any scientific activity during the courses.

The use of industry partner equipment or devices during hands-on learning sessions does not represent an endorsement. Participants are informed that a variety of similar products are available for their use outside of the course.