Research Security
Research funding (RFOs) and research performing organisations (RPOs) have distinct yet complementary responsibilities when it comes to navigating the unavoidable risks of international cooperation. Developing a culture of ‘responsible internationalisation’ requires sharing good practices, raising awareness, standard-setting and multi-sector collaboration.
A balanced approach requires the support of national governments to ensure that legal frameworks, clear policies and guidance are proportionate in addressing the risks, while promoting international collaboration.
Why does Research Security matter?
International cooperation is a main component of scientific excellence in research and innovation. Changing geopolitical conditions has an impact on all involved actors of a research ecosystem, including RFOs, RPOs, universities and researchers. Values and norms of research collaboration, such as research integrity, collegiality, reciprocity, openness, and academic freedom, are impacted by the national governments’ responses, or lack thereof, to global tensions.
Cases of research collaborations with partners of varied constitutional backgrounds, differing interpretations or divergences from EU standards, may put national security at risk. To navigate international collaboration that is open and safe, a proactive ‘due diligence’ research security culture should be adopted across the research ecosystem, following proportionate measures such as risk appraisals, investment in capacity building and information-sharing amongst all involved stakeholders. This requires collaboration between all stakeholders, including RPOs, RFOs, industry and governments.
Research security should be seen as a protective framework that enables researchers to conduct their work freely, responsibly, and with trust, consistency and transparency in their output, empowering them instead of restricting them.
Science Europe activities
Science Europe combines the valuable perspectives of both RPOs and RFOs, facilitates dialogue, maps and promotes good practices for research security, organises thematic workshops and collaborates with national and European stakeholders to refine advocacy messages and actions for research security.
