The UK’s acknowledged strengths in science and technology (S&T) are the product of a university system in which international collaboration between academics is the norm. But this culture of openness also makes the research sector vulnerable to penetration by foreign state actors such as China. This paper explores how the UK can improve its ‘research security’ practices so that research assets and intellectual property are better protected from theft or misuse, and so that sensitive research with potential dual-use applications is not repurposed in ways detrimental to the UK’s interests.
The central policy dilemma, the paper, argues, is one of insulating the UK from threats without isolating it from the collaborative networks on which S&T research depends.
The paper advocates measures that include: embedding research security more fully in the government’s S&T, industrial and national security strategies; deepening collaboration with trusted international partners; integrating UK universities more closely into the defence-industrial base; strengthening the role of public funders in research security assurance; improving transparency around foreign affiliations; professionalizing the research security workforce; and adopting an approach to risk management that considers the entire lifecycle of S&T research.
DOI: 10.55317/9781784136888