Abstract

Research Security is defined by the G7 as actions that “protect our research communities from actors and behaviours that pose economic, strategic and/or national and international security risks.”

The European Council Recommendation on Research Security adopted by the Council of the European Union makes 14 recommendations to enhance research security in response to the changing geopolitical context. This follows similar campaigns and underpinning legislation to promote research security introduced in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom and Australia as well as some member states and the G7.

In the UK, the National Protective Security Authority (NPSA) ‘Trusted Research’ guidelines were published in 2019 to support the integrity of the system of international research collaboration, which is vital to the success of the UK’s research and innovation (R&I) sector. It outlines the potential risks to UK R&I; helps researchers, universities and industry partners to have confidence in international collaboration and make informed decisions around those potential risks; and explains how to protect research and staff from potential theft, misuse or exploitation. The guidelines are underpinned by regulatory frameworks such as Export Control, Academic Technology Approval Scheme, and the National Security and Investment Act and are supported by the Research Collaboration Advice Team who provide clear advice to universities on the changing research security landscape.

Responsibility for implementing research security measures at UK universities has fallen disproportionately on research managers and administrators (RMAs). An ARMA UK report published in 2023 highlighted the many challenges facing RMAs, including lack of capacity to operationalise research security guidelines; lack of a central repository for research security information; and clear understanding of the information needed to satisfy research security requirements.

This session will provide a case study of Loughborough University’s ‘Safer Partnerships and Trusted Research’ response to operationalising research security requirements in the UK context, sharing experiences which will support RMAs in preparing to operationalise research security measures.

Learning outcomes:
• Defining research security
• The importance of advocacy and securing the support of senior leaders
• Due diligence – tools and resources to support the identification of research security risks
• Mitigation – engaging with regulatory frameworks to manage risks