The University is supporting Trusted Research, a recently launched campaign led by the National Protective Security Authority (NPSA) and the National Cybersecurity Centre (NCC), which advises research communities on how to protect the integrity of international research collaborations.
Colleagues across the university are encouraged to access the support, resources and training available, both internally and via the Trusted Research campaign, to ensure their valuable research is protected.
Recognising and managing risks
The campaign highlights and provides information about three particular areas of risk:
- Sensitive research: how to identify whether your research could have a dual-use that would make it vulnerable to collaborators who might wish to use your work for a different purpose to the one you intended.
- Malign collaborators: the need to know exactly who you are working with and to do the due diligence to be confident in your collaborations.
- Overseas travel: Considerations including awareness when travelling, reduced academic freedom in other countries, significantly different legal frameworks and cybersecurity.
The need for heightened awareness
Mark Spearing, Vice-President for Research and Enterprise, comments: “Our academic colleagues rightly take great pride in their world-changing research and international collaborations are a fundamental and hugely beneficial component of many careers at Southampton. However, in a changing world and with a range of geo-political tensions affecting many of our lives, it is essential that we consider what this means for our research activities.”
“In line with heightened government expectations on universities and the Trusted Research campaign, we are asking everyone in our community who is involved in research and supporting research and researchers, to raise their awareness levels of the risks inherent to international collaborations and how to identify and mitigate them, so that we can protect the important work we do.”
Support and Resources
- Research and Innovation Services (R&IS) provides advice, support and access to training to colleagues setting up or involved in international research collaborations. Email: [email protected] or visit Research Integrity and Compliance (sharepoint.com)
- Trusted Research: https://www.npsa.gov.uk/trusted-research