(C) U.S. State Dept
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In Academia Research Data Is Sensitive, Here’s How We Are Helping Reduce Security Risks [1]

['Clara Sherwood']

Date: 2024-07

Academic and research organizations have made, and continue to make, tremendous contributions to humanity. These contributions are underpinned by our values–academic openness, transparency, and reciprocity–and are often facilitated by international research cooperation. International research partnerships are vital to the United States, and the ability for institutions to work together freely and openly depends upon the capability to protect and trust research ecosystems.

Yet we’ve learned in the past decade that our competitors with different views can exploit the very openness that underpins the strength of our academic and research community and drives our scientific progress. Some state actors are engaged in clear, well-organized efforts to divert the fruits of our research and innovation to advance their military objectives to the detriment of the very institutions and countries with whom they partner.

Protecting Research through Openness and Accountability

These countries exploit academic and research relationships to acquire sensitive technology and expertise to advance their military programs. They require or incentivize students engaged in research and development to pass on their knowledge and data to the government in exchange for salaries, job opportunities, and other rewards. Similarly, these competitors target professors and researchers at universities, compelling them to undermine their research integrity by providing these governments with information, materials, and equipment.

However, we believe continued scientific and educational cooperation is essential to address the world’s shared challenges. The U.S. Department of State remains committed to people-to-people exchanges, such as the:

These programs, and others, provide opportunities to study, teach, conduct research, exchange ideas, and contribute to efforts to find solutions to shared international concerns.

Thanks to @TAMU for inviting Deputy Asst Secretary Gonzalo Suarez to speak at the 7th Annual Academic Security and Counter Exploitation Conference. Together we are strengthening the international research ecosystem and engaging with talent and innovation wherever it resides. pic.twitter.com/DPenJ1BGWp — State ISN Bureau (@StateISN) March 15, 2023

Responsible international research collaboration, critical for scientific development and human progress, can only advance when underpinned by shared values of openness, transparency, reciprocity, research security, and integrity. Open science is reciprocal, transparent and accountable – and thus enables security and trustworthiness.

The United States’ competitors are increasingly setting their sights on many of today’s critical and emerging technologies, like biotechnology, artificial intelligence, and quantum computing, which have dual-use applications for civilian or military uses. This means these technologies can either be used to help humanity or misappropriated and abused to cause harm, such as by facilitating military advances or human rights repression.

For example, AI can be incorporated into healthcare, education, and agriculture to improve workflows, inform decisions, and enhance productivity. Conversely, AI can aid the spread of disinformation, discover new toxic chemicals, or facilitate a government’s usage of facial-recognition technology to suppress political dissent. The State Department is working hard to increase awareness of these potential dual uses of AI and emerging technology and help research organizations identify and mitigate risks in research collaborations.

If we can harness all of the extraordinary potential in artificial intelligence, while mitigating the downsides, we will advance progress for people around the world. – @SecBlinken pic.twitter.com/sdM40YLrYa — Department of State (@StateDept) March 18, 2024

The State Department’s Bureau of International Security and Nonproliferation (ISN) works with our partners and allies to protect our national security by making sure that sensitive technologies, knowledge, and intellectual property are not diverted for military end-uses including weapons of mass destruction, advanced conventional weapons, and their delivery systems.

One of ISN’s goals is to raise awareness and better enable researchers, their institutions, and partner and allied governments to assess risk and implement mitigation measures to allow research to continue in the most safe and secure way possible. It’s important to build a shared understanding of the risks in the greater global security context and raise awareness that research and intangible technologies are sought by actors and programs through ill-intentioned collaboration, predatory talent-recruitment programs, and outright theft.

Increasing Awareness and Protecting Innovation

When researchers, universities, and scientists can protect their intellectual property, then they can determine how to benefit from and be properly compensated for their innovations if they choose to pursue commercialization. Similarly, when researchers and companies can demonstrate strong research security and cybersecurity mechanisms, they become more attractive for investment and collaboration.

ISN is increasing awareness about research security concerns through outreach to foreign governments and capacity-building engagements with civil societies abroad. These engagements take the form of workshops, training, fellowships, support to establish regional research security consortia, cybersecurity assessments, and key research security conferences. The intent of these capacity-building engagements is to highlight the many approaches to addressing research security issues. We realize there is no “one size fits all” solution.

ISN is proud to have supported Argentinian, Brazilian, Chilean and Peruvian researchers in organizing the South America Research Security Consortium. We applaud their dedication to expanding STEM innovation through research security. ¡Felicidades a todos! https://t.co/OCKACwkJBT — State ISN Bureau (@StateISN) July 25, 2024

Case in point: ISN’s Office of Cooperative Threat Reduction successfully supported the establishment of the South American Research Security Consortium and the Nigerian-led African Research Security Consortium. These consortia consist of stakeholder networks throughout Africa and Latin America that share locally tailored resources and raise awareness of regional research security threats. By providing partners with autonomy, they can leverage their consortium to address what they see as the most pressing research security needs in their regions. To implement ISN’s research security mission further, additional consortia are currently being organized and established in Europe and Southeast Asia.

Protecting sensitive knowledge without stifling innovation is a tightrope walk. While ISN does focus on reducing security risks, we are equally concerned with promoting international research collaboration in line with international research norms. By engaging likeminded partners in multilateral efforts and expanding bilateral cooperation, ISN takes a global approach to protecting sensitive critical and emerging technologies.

The State Department values and works to protect the openness of academic and research organizations and endeavors to reduce security risks while promoting research collaboration. Innovation and technology should be used to uplift people, not to keep them down.

Clara Sherwood is a Pathways Intern in the Bureau of International Security and Nonproliferation.

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[1] Url: https://www.state.gov/in-academia-research-data-is-sensitive-heres-how-we-are-helping-reduce-security-risks/?utm_source=news_bar&utm_medium=dipnote

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