Safeguarding International Science: A Research Security Framework

Protecting the global research ecosystem

United States scientists pursue excellence in science and technology research by actively engaging with the international research community in areas of mutual interest and benefit. This engagement includes welcoming international scientists into U.S. laboratories to collaborate on cutting-edge research of mutual interest and benefit, attending international meetings, and working to address critical challenges in emerging technology areas. 

At the same time, it is vital to U.S. national and economic security that scientific leaders and institutions manage risks presented by international research collaborations. These risks include theft, misuse, abuse and exploitation of intellectual property and critical technology.

To help U.S. research institutions develop and implement research security programs, NIST in 2023 published a report titled “Safeguarding International Science: A Research Security Framework.” This report is available free of charge.

A framework to enable safe, productive international research collaborations

NIST’s report, developed by a multidisciplinary team of research security experts, outlines a methodology to establish an integrated, mission-focused, risk-balanced research security program. This methodology is designed to safeguard intellectual property while maintaining open scientific exchange and the integrity of our innovative research ecosystem.    

This framework is intended to be holistic, scalable, deployable and non-intrusive. It promotes a U.S. research ecosystem collaboration, openness, equity, integrity and security, all of which facilitate innovation.

The Framework’s methodology is designed to protect individual privacy and civil liberties while reviewing potential risks of engagement. It is designed to assist organizations, regardless of size or risk profile of activities, to apply the principles and best practices of a balanced-risk management approach to improving the security of international research.

The purpose of research security is not to stifle collaborative research, but rather to enable and safeguard it. Research security should be positive and supportive, not punitive.

Key principles

• Understanding the scientific research and its potential outcomes enables balanced risk-benefit decision making;
• Implementing a mission-focused, integrated, risk-balanced research security program safeguards international science while mitigating risks to the integrity of the open collaborative environment; and
• Establishing a research security review platform assists the research community across the broad spectrum of international science and technology activities.

NIST welcomes the opportunity to engage with our international partners on these important issues.

Categories of Risk

NIST’s report describes a research security framework for use by organizations regardless of size or risk profile, including government agencies, universities and industry organizations. 

The framework identifies five categories of engagement that can serve as models for identifying and assessing research security risks across a broad range of activities. Within each category, the framework provides guidance on risk factors to consider, information sources to analyze and questions to ask to facilitate a security review. The report also identifies common indicators and warning signs that a particular collaboration, project or engagement could raise security risks.

The framework then provides a roadmap that institutions can follow to conduct a research security review process for each risk category.

Research Security Review Categories

The major categories and factors that scientific institution and leaders should consider in a research security review.