Research Security
International cooperation is essential, particularly in the field of applied research, technology, and innovation (RTI), as it involves the best minds worldwide pooling their know-how and knowledge to work on innovative solutions for the challenges of our time. However, global collaborations also bring threats and risks in the RTI sector that must be consciously considered and managed.
Research security addresses creating awareness of the threats and risks associated with international RTI cooperation and implementing appropriate measures. The fundamental principle here is not to avoid threats and risks (and the associated cooperations) entirely, but to deal with them correctly and consciously. In international RTI cooperation, risks must be weighed against opportunities according to the principle of "as open as possible and as closed as necessary."
The Council Recommendations on Enhancing Research Security of 23.5.2024 list principles for the responsible internationalization of RTI activities, which should be taken into account when drafting and implementing research security measures.
BMIMIs approach deals with the implementation of measures to increase research security in the field of applied research, technology and innovation. It aims to help create framework conditions for Austrian applied RTI actors that enable secure international cooperations. The information provided here is intended to offer a first overview of the area of research security and related topics, thereby raising awareness of the subject and providing non-binding support in the implementation of research security measures.
Terminology
According to the European Council Recommendation of 23.5.2024 on Enhancing Research Security, research security refers to dealing with threats and risks from EU third countries in connection with the unwanted transfer of critical knowledge, know-how, and technology; malicious influence on research; and violations of ethics or integrity, where knowledge and technologies are used to undermine fundamental European, national, or institutional values.
Another important related term is Foreign Interference, which, according to the European document "Tackling R&I Foreign Interference", is explained as follows: Activities carried out by or on behalf of foreign state actors that exert coercion, are covert, misleading or corrupting and run counter to the sovereignty, values and interests of the European Union.
Why is the research sector particularly vulnerable and worthy of protection?
The RTI sector is particularly vulnerable due to the openness of its activities (academic freedom; Open Science; international cooperations, etc.). Against this background, it is necessary to understand the threats and risks associated with joint international activities. These risks, in turn, must be weighed against the principle of "as open as possible and as closed as necessary" to maintain a proportionality between security and freedom in the RTI sector.
Certain research, technology and innovation areas are characterized by a particular risk potential (e.g. through foreign interference). In its "Recommendations of 3.10.2023 on critical technology areas for the EU's economic security" (Recommendation and Annex), the European Commission defined ten areas considered critical. Of these, the four areas of advanced semiconductors technologies, artificial intelligence technologies, quantum technologies and biotechnologies were defined as particularly critical.
Principles of responsible international RTI cooperation
The Recommendation on Enhancing Research Security of 23.5.2024 lists principles for the responsible internationalization of RTI activities, which should be considered when drafting and implementing research security measures.
The orientation and implementation of research security are based on the following principles at the European level: research security lies primarily in the self-responsibility of RTI actors and thus falls under the self-governance of the sector; international cooperations should not be avoided entirely if risks may arise, but rather active risk management should be carried out; a risk-based, country-agnostic approach to conducting risk management is to be preferred.
Threats and risks
In the context of research security, the threats and risks of foreign interference can be diverse, ranging from unintentional/unwanted knowledge transfer, espionage and the abusive military use of civilian research to threats to personal safety and reputation, human rights violations or the threatening of field researchers, technology transfer risks, foreign propaganda and disinformation or violations of ethics and integrity.
Countermeasures
Using various instruments (e.g., potential analysis, risk management processes or due diligence checks), risks that may arise in international RTI cooperation and specific projects can be identified, assessed and reduced or excluded through the introduction of appropriate measures.
Through a potential analysis and a risk management process, questions regarding strengths and weaknesses or assets (such as know-how, patents, research results, prototypes, etc.) of RTI organizations are addressed. Specifically, which of these are particularly worthy of protection and how risks can be identified, assessed and controlled and furthermore be minimized or excluded through suitable countermeasures.
In a due diligence check regarding research security and international RTI cooperation, potential research partners (e.g., the respective cooperation country and the specific foreign cooperation organizations or researchers) are checked before entering into an international RTI cooperation to enable as secure cooperations as possible. As part of this check, for example: dependencies, trustworthiness or reputation, are examined.
Document collections
In this section, documents from other organizations and countries have been compiled to provide an overview of initiatives by other actors and organizations. Under the following two categories, links to European institutions documents relevant to research security on the one hand and under the second category, a link collection to documents from other organizations and countries on the topic of research security can be found.
At the European level, research security is anchored within the framework of the European Economic Security Strategy (EESS). The EESS was published in June 2023. In January 2024, within the framework of the strategy, a package of five initiatives was adopted, one of which covered research security. From this initiative emerged the aforementioned Council Recommendation on Enhancing Research Security of 23.5.2024.
Research security has also been included as one of eight independent ERA Actions in the EUs new European Research Area (ERA) Policy Agenda 2025-2027 of 24.6.2025 and integrated into the national ERA action plan (ERA-NAP) 2026-2028 derived from the ERA Policy Agenda. Thus, at the European level, EU member states commit to a joint implementation and Austria defines derived national measures.
Below an overview of the most important European institutions documents on the topic of research security can be found:
- Council Recommendation on Enhancing Research Security
- Economic Security Package - Initiative: Proposal for a Council recommendation on enhancing research security
- Staff Working Document „Tackling R&I Foreign Interference”
- Factsheet of the European Commission „Research Security. Building blocks for risk appraisal“
- Research Security Monitor 2025. Monitoring Report on the implementation of the Council Recommendation on Enhancing Research Security
Topic: Economic Security (EESS)
- Joint Communication of the European Parliament, the European Council and the Council on “European Economic Security Strategy”
- Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament and the Council “Advancing European economic security: an introduction to five new initiatives”
- Joint Communication to the European Parliament and the Council “Strengthening EU Economic Security
- Regulation (EU) 2021/821 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 May 2021 setting up a Union regime for the control of exports, brokering, technical assistance, transit and transfer of dual-use items
- Regulation (EU) 2019/452 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 19 March 2019 establishing a framework for the screening of foreign direct investments into the Union
Topic: Critical Technologies
- Commission Recommendation (EU) 2023/2113 on critical technology areas for the EU's economic security for further risk assessment with Member States
- Annex to the Commission Recommendation on critical technology areas for the EU's economic security for further risk assessment with Member States
Topic: International RTI-cooperation with third countries (Global Approach)
- Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions on the Global Approach to Research and Innovation.
- Council conclusions – (Multilateral Dialogue on) principles and values for international cooperation in research and innovation
- "Brussels Statement" - Multilateral Dialogue on principles and values for international cooperation in research & innovation, Ministerial Conference
- Commission Recommendation (EU) 2023/499 of 1 March 2023 on a Code of Practice on the management of intellectual assets for knowledge valorisation in the European Research Area
Topic: European Research Area (ERA)
Organizations
- OECD: Science, Technology and Innovation Outlook 2025 – Analytical OECD-Report on Trends in Science & Innovation
- Science Europe: Science Europe: Report on Research Security: Key Policy Messages and Actions (2025), Final Report of the Science Europe Task Force on Research Security, with recommendations for research organizations and funding agencies
Countries
- Denmark: Danish security and intelligence service (2021). Is Your Research at Risk? Tips on foreign interference and espionage for researchers and other staff
- Denmark: Danish Ministry of Higher Education and Science (2022). Guidelines for international research and innovation cooperation
- Germany: Bundesamt für Verfassungsschutz (2023). Espionage in Science and Research
- Germany: Bundesamt für Verfassungsschutz (2023). Spionage in Wirtschaft und Forschung
- Germany: Hochschulrektorenkonferenz (2020). Guidelines and standards in international university cooperation
- Germany: Hochschulrektorenkonferenz (2020). Guiding questions on university cooperation with the People’s Republic of China
- Germany: DFG and Leopoldina (2022). Scientific Freedom and Scientific Responsibility Recommendations for Handling of Security-Relevant Research
- Germany: Max Planck Gesellschaft (2017). Guidelines and Rules on a Responsible Approach to Freedom of Research and Research Risks
- Finland: Ministry of Education and Culture (2021). Recommendations for academic cooperation with China
- France: Ministry of the Economy (2021). La Sécurité économique au quotidien (Economic security in daily life)
- Great Britain: UUK (2020). Managing risks in international research and innovation
- Netherlands: Government of the Netherlands (2022). National Knowledge Security Guidelines 2022
- Netherlands: Government of the Netherlands (2026). National Knowledge Security Guidelines 2026
- Norway: Directorate for Higher Education and Skills and the Research Council of Norway (2023). Guidelines and Tools for responsible international knowledge cooperation
- Sweden: Shih, T., Gaunt, A. & Östlund, S. (2020). Responsible internationalisation: Guidelines for reflection on international academic collaboration. Stockholm: STINT
- Czechia: Czech Ministry of Interior (2021). Counter Foreign Interference Manual
- Czechia: Association for International Affairs (2022). How to Do Trusted Research: China-Specific Guidelines for European Stakeholders
Events
Online Webinar 23.7.2026: "Research Security in Europe – Building resilience without creating barriers"
On July 23, 2026, Science|Business and Digital Science are hosting a high-level online webinar on the future of research security in Europe. It focuses on the question of how research institutions and policymakers can strengthen research security without unnecessarily restricting international cooperation or scientific openness. Discussed topics include the implementation of the European Research Security Agenda, institutional governance, risk management in international cooperations, and the balance between Open Science and the protection of sensitive research. The event is aimed at universities, research organizations, funding agencies, and policymakers, offering a good opportunity to inform themselves about current developments at the European level.
European Flagship Conference on Research Security
New European conference series co-organized by the European Commission and European research organizations. The conference was held for the first time in October 2025 in Brussels. Topics included international research cooperations, risk management and due diligence, protection of critical and emerging technologies, academic freedom, Open Science, as well as the establishment of a European Centre of Expertise on Research Security and a European Due-Diligence Platform. The conference is designed as a recurring European flagship format. The next conference is planned for 2027.
ENCORS establishes itself as a Symposium for Research Security
With the European Network Conference on Research Security (ENCORS), a new European platform is emerging specifically for universities, research funders, and research security officers. The first conference took place in May 2026 in Delft; a continuation in Germany is already planned. Topics addressed included due diligence, governance, international cooperations and institutional practice.
Initiatives of the European Commission
Research Security Monitor of the European Commission
The Commission has established a Research Security Monitor report that documents developments in member states and brings together good practices on national strategies and institutional measures. The first report 2025 was published on 27.2.2026. The goal is to provide an overview of the status of the implementation of research security measures in Europe.
EU Commission working on European Centre of Expertise on Research Security
The European Commission is specifying the establishment of a European Centre of Expertise on Research Security. The centre is intended to support member states, funding organizations and research institutions through evidence, best practices, training and a community of practice.
EU developing Due-Diligence Instruments for International Cooperations
In addition to the Centre of Expertise, the European Commission is developing tools with which universities can gather information on potential partner institutes and organizations for international cooperation and then systematically evaluate them. The goal is to identify risks early without disproportionately restricting international cooperation.
Research Security to be more strongly integrated into the European Research Area (ERA)
The European Commission has announced that it will integrate research security more strongly into the further development of the ERA in the future. The goal is to combine open science with risk-based protection of critical research and technologies. The integration of research security into the planned ERA Act is also under discussion.
Country initiatives
The Netherlands publishes updated research security guidelines
The Dutch government has further developed its guidelines on research security and republished them in July 2026. Universities are thus supported with concrete guidance on risk assessment, international cooperations, knowledge security and institutional governance.
Contact
Sonja Stiller
Task Force EU Innovation and Technology
email: research-security@bmimi.gv.at