Challenges and recommendations for research security: Learning from research ethics and integrity

Abstract

Collaborative and open research combined with influential technological advancements and geopolitical tensions allow Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) and Research Performing Organisations (RPOs) to become prone to Research Security (RS) risks. Despite its recent conceptualisation, RS has been swiftly recognised as a critical issue globally, highlighting the need to quickly adopt policy actions. To this direction, the CHANGER consortium recommends policy actions particularly relevant to the European context. Policy actions are informed by the accumulated experience generated through established research ethics and integrity frameworks, in order to build resilience to RS risks, while ensuring freedom and openness of research. Adaptions to existing training programmes on research ethics and integrity programmes in order to embed RS considerations in the research culture, as well as the cultivation of professional expertise and capacity building in RS, are among these policy recommendations. Leveraging experience and insights from research ethics and integrity infrastructure offers valuable opportunities to raise awareness and establish procedures for safeguarding RS. The proposed policy actions offer flexibility to meet specific research needs of each HEI and RPO, and are proportionate to related risks rising from each research project. They foster capacity-building for researchers and cultivate a culture of awareness, shared responsibility and proactive responsiveness, facilitating the responsible internationalisation of research.