Government to help protect research from security threats

The United Kingdom government has begun recruiting for a new unit being set up to advise researchers on how to protect their work from hostile activity and ensure that international research collaboration is carried out in a way that is “safe and secure”.

The initiative is a response to calls from university and other researchers for better support in this area and has been welcomed by university bodies.

The Research Collaboration Advice Team (RCAT), based within the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, will promote government advice on security-related topics, such as export controls, cyber-security and protection of intellectual property.

Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng said: “Keeping the country safe is the primary responsibility of any government, and it is essential that we do everything in our power to support our brilliant scientists and researchers in pursuit of our ambition to become a global science superpower.

“This new team will give universities and institutions access to the latest advice on safe collaboration with international partners and protections against those who seek to harm the UK.”

Science Minister Amanda Solloway said the vital work of scientists based in the UK over the past year in response to the pandemic demonstrates how crucial it is to foster an open yet secure environment for pioneering research.

“Researchers need to take precautions when collaborating internationally, and this new team will support them.”

According to a statement from the department, the RCAT team will help researchers make the most of their collaborations while helping them to protect themselves from those who seek to compromise the UK’s national security.

“Such behaviour left unchecked can leave the UK vulnerable to disruption, unfair leverage and espionage. The threats to science and research in particular – primarily the theft, misuse or exploitation of intellectual property by hostile actors – are growing, evolving and increasingly complex,” the statement said.

The team will respond to requests from British universities that have identified potential risks within current projects or proposals. Advisers will also proactively approach research institutions and support them to implement advice and guidance already on offer.

Solloway said the leadership of the new team will be based in Manchester, with advisers distributed across the UK.

The announcement on 25 May is the latest in a series of measures being taken by the government with the aim of keeping the UK safe from hostile activity.

Last month, the National Security and Investment Act received royal assent, strengthening the UK’s ability to investigate and intervene in potentially hostile mergers, acquisitions and other types of deals that could threaten national security.

The UK’s screening powers have also been extended to include assets like intellectual property, as well as companies.

Building on guidelines on risk

Last year, the government supported Universities UK to publish guidelines for the sector on managing security-related risks within international collaboration.

These followed the launch of the government-funded Trusted Research campaign in 2019 by the Centre for the Protection of National Infrastructure and the National Cyber Security Centre, which helps UK universities and research institutions to make informed decisions about international collaboration and associated risks.

Professor Julia Buckingham, president of Universities UK, said: “International collaboration lies at the heart of excellent research, delivers huge benefits to the UK and helps to ensure that we are recognised as a global science superpower.

“We have a responsibility to ensure that our collaborations are safe and secure, and our universities take these responsibilities very seriously.”

She said together with the guidelines from Universities UK on Managing Risk in Internationalisation, the work of the new team and the specialist advice and support it provides will help to ensure that the public can be confident in universities’ research collaborations.

“We particularly welcome the creation of a single point of contact in government, which builds on recommendations made by Universities UK and will provide valuable insights for institutions and researchers,” she said.

Dr Tim Bradshaw, chief executive of the Russell Group, said the provision of the RCAT within government, as called for by the research sector, will support universities and researchers to make informed decisions about their international partnerships.

“It will bolster joint efforts from universities and government departments to combat threats to sensitive UK research from hostile actors,” he said.

He said that, ultimately, this will “help to keep the UK research sector open and allow the country to continue to benefit from secure collaboration with international partners, whether that is in the discovery of new treatments for diseases, or in the development of new technologies that can help us reach our net zero goal”.