Research guidelines; exercise science                                                                            

These guidelines apply to the studies on exercise sciences in Polar Electro Oy. Target These guidelines aim to certify that Polar Electro Oy is involved in the high quality research in the fields of exercise science. The company is interested in studies because they serve creating better products and/or help in promoting product sales. These guidelines are used in all research initials outside the company as well in those starting within the company.  Principles Research co-operation initiative is addressed to the director in exercise science, who presents the project to the segment management and other needed Polar teams. Based on the evaluation director in exercise science approves the research plan by taking the research agreement for preparation to Polar legal counsel. If needed, an additional expert opinion (e.g. a member of Scientific Advisory Board) is attached to the documents. The language required in all (international) project initiatives is English. The director in exercise science is responsible for co-ordination of the study, i.e. follow-up of progress, reporting of the project inside the company, storing documents, reports and publications.  In order for initiative to proceed to the presentation in the company the following documents are needed:  

1) Presentation of the research unit (institute, university, department etc.) 

• background and general presentation 
• private or public (funding base)
• staff and equipment resources-publications 

2) Presentation of the responsible researcher                      

• curriculum vitae                      
• publications of the topic  

3) Research plan                      

• abstract (1 page)                      
• introduction (background, literature)                     
• aim(s)                        
• general structure                     
• subjects                      
• measurements and other methods (e.g. statistics)                     
• ethical issues                     
• timetable                     
• budget                     
• research group (and responsible areas)                     
• publication plan                      
• references   

On the basis of the above mentioned documents research initiative is reviewed based on the following criteria: 

• significance and originality value for the company (firstly product development, secondly marketing)
• competence of the study plan (probability to succeed)
• competence of the responsible researcher
• adequacy of the resources (personnel, facilities, equipment) in the research unit
• justification of expenses
• schedule  

Priority rating: 

1. Very important and relevant  

• to be accepted as proposed
• to be accepted after changes/modifications 

2. Important, but not of current interest

• to be rejected or transferred to " the waiting list" 

3. Not interesting, not in relation to company products

• to be rejected  

All documents concerning the study initiative (initiative, research plan, experts recommendations and other possible documents) are kept in the files by the director, exercise science. After the study is accepted a research agreement is signed (2 copies).  A board of trustees or corresponding is named for the project. Progress of the study is followed by monthly meetings and by intermediate reports. After the study is finished a final report is prepared and one copy is supplied to Polar Electro Oy. This report follows the outlines of regular scientific publication emphasizing on results, findings, discussion and conclusions. Decisions of all condemned studies is sent to the research group.