Integrity and responsibility: learn about Coppetec’s new compliance policy

The Coppetec Foundation has updated its Integrity and Transparency Policy and its Code of Conduct and Ethics to incorporate new management practices, keep pace with changes in the requirements of regulatory agencies and funders, and strengthen the culture of integrity within the institution.

The Coppetec Foundation already had an integrity policy, which was implemented in 2017. The update was led by the Compliance department to review the practices adopted by the Foundation and adapt them to the current context, while also taking into account the specific characteristics of supporting foundations.

As Tarcísio Aguiar, head of the Compliance department, explains, integrity is linked to the way the Foundation conducts its business—with transparency, honesty, and respect for applicable rules and laws.

“Researcher Renata Ferreira and I conducted a benchmarking study with other supporting foundations and carried out this update in accordance with industry best practices, particularly those related to supporting foundations. Our niche is very specific. We are a private, nonprofit foundation, and we manage both public and private funds. So there are different regulations that we must understand, respect, and follow.”

“The world is constantly evolving, and institutions need to keep pace with these changes. A cultural shift is key. Just because we did things a certain way 20 years ago doesn’t mean we should do them the same way today. We need to keep up with best management practices.”

Another aspect highlighted by Tarcísio is the importance of incorporating integrity from the very start of projects, not just during the accountability phase.

“In our work, we need to think proactively. From the very first moment of the proposal, if we begin to proceed in accordance with the guidelines of institutions, funders, etc., by the time we reach our final result—the accountability report—everything will be in line with what we need,” explains Tarcísio.

Compliance day

To present the new Integrity and Transparency Policy and the new Code of Conduct and Ethics to its employees, the Coppetec Foundation held its first Compliance Day on September 9.

At the event’s opening, Executive Director Professor Amanda Xavier emphasized that the update is part of an ongoing process that the Foundation had already been developing. “It is simply the way we make decisions and act in our daily lives. Tarcísio and Renata placed a strong emphasis on developing all the updates to this policy and introducing these new practices of continuous improvement,” she explained.

The Foundation’s Executive Director, Professor Glaydston Ribeiro, emphasized that the update reinforces Coppetec’s alignment with the expectations of funders and regulatory bodies and increases the emphasis on ethics and transparency in relations with various stakeholders.

Tarcísio further explained that the policy establishes principles and guidelines for the Foundation’s operations and applies to everyone associated with Coppetec, including executives, employees, partners, suppliers, scholarship recipients, interns, and third parties.

The head of the Compliance department also highlighted the diversity of institutions supported by Coppetec and the need to adhere to the specific rules of each one.

“The Foundation’s mission is to manage projects in teaching, research, and innovation, as well as extension and institutional development, with agility, effectiveness, and transparency for the benefit of UFRJ and other supported institutions. It is important to emphasize that each of these institutions has its own rules. They have their own regulations, their own resolutions, and various specific situations unique to each one,” added the attorney, who specializes in compliance.

Learn more about the Coppetec Foundation’s Integrity and Transparency Policy and visit the Transparency page, through which the Foundation reports to the public, partners, and auditors on the resources managed in the projects it supports.

Integrity link

Another new initiative introduced is the creation of the Integrity Link. The Compliance department and the executive board have designated one employee from each management team to serve as an integrity link, strengthening the connection between the teams and the Foundation’s Compliance department.

“The Integrity Links will participate in occasional meetings with the Compliance Department, helping to foster a culture of integrity and strengthen communication with the teams, thereby promoting greater integration among all of the Foundation’s management teams. The idea is to increase the representatives’ involvement, create new opportunities for participation, and maintain ongoing engagement from management. The links will serve as a bridge between the teams and the compliance department.”

Brazil Pact

In 2025, the Coppetec Foundation joined the Brazil Pact, an initiative of the Office of the Comptroller General (CGU) that encourages companies and private entities operating in the country to voluntarily make a public commitment to corporate integrity.

During Compliance Day, Tarcísio also emphasized that joining the Brazil Pact aligns with the integrity practices adopted by the Foundation and reinforces its commitment to ethics, transparency, risk management, and the prevention of irregularities.

Among the objectives of the Brazil Pact are strengthening senior management’s commitment to integrity standards, increasing transparency, and contributing to the prevention of fraud and corruption. The initiative also seeks to foster relationships with partners and suppliers who share principles of ethics and integrity.

The update to the Integrity and Transparency Policy, the new Code of Conduct and Ethics, the creation of the Integrity Link, and adherence to the Brazil Pact are all part of the same effort: to incorporate integrity into Coppetec’s daily operations and into the relationships the Foundation maintains with its various stakeholders.