Research security
What is Research Security?
Research security refers to the efforts to safeguard research and researchers against activities which threaten intellectual property, national security, critical infrastructure and the integrity of the research ecosystem. These activities can include foreign interference, espionage and unwanted knowledge transfer or theft.
Research Security in practice: What can researchers to do?
- Education and training – know the risks
- Situational awareness – ask questions
- Proper documentation and record keeping
- Evaluate risk - A guide to open-source due diligence for researchers *coming soon
- Travel Safe – plan ahead
Research Security Workshops
Online Research Security Workshops
Two Government of Canada workshops are available on the Ontario Tech Catalog Canvas platform:
- Introduction to Research Security
- Cyber Security for Researchers
Email safeguardingresearch@ontariotechu.ca with your Banner ID to register. It may take up to one week to receive a welcome email with a link to access the courses.
Safeguarding Science Initiative
The Safeguarding Science Initiative by Public Safety’s Research Security Centre was created to raise awareness of research security issues, focusing on:
- Best practices in maintaining a security-conscious research organization
- Research security guidance and tools to help recognize and mitigate risks to Canadian researchers and institutions
- Understanding of sensitive technology and how to recognize dual-use technology
Safeguarding Science Initiative
-
Who Should Attend?
The Safeguarding Science initiative is intended for researchers, research staff (including technicians, postdoctoral fellows and students), research security professionals, research administrators, information technology and information management staff, security personnel, biosafety and radiological safety officers, human resources personnel, supply chain personnel and senior management.
-
Learning Outcomes
The goal of the workshop is for participants to:
-
Access guidance and tools to strengthen their security posture
-
Understand best practices to identify and mitigate research security threats
-
Pursue and maintain safe research partnerships
-
Maintain institutional reputation as a safe research organization
-
Protect valuable research, data or potentially patentable property
-
-
Module 1: Safeguarding Science: Raising awareness of security risks and mitigation tools in the research ecosystem
The purpose of the Safeguarding Science workshop is to raise awareness within Canada's scientific and academic communities about research security-related issues. The primary objective of this workshop is to explain the potential for misuse of dual-use research, technology and materials, along with possible risk indicators and mitigation tools to protect Canadian research assets.
REGISTER FOR MODULE 1 – Feb. 26, 2025 - 1 TO 2:30 P.M.
The workshops are hosted by Public Safety’s Research Security Centre. Please use your @ontariotechu.ca email to register.
-
Module 2: Dual-Use Technologies: Know Your Research – Know your Partners - Assess the Risk
The module elaborates on dual-use technologies and research with specific examples. These examples highlight the complex nature of dual-use technologies, and ways to recognize their sensitivities. The outcome of the module will enhance understanding of the dual-use nature of any research, whether in STEM or social sciences, and give frontline researchers and institutions tools to perform their due diligence and evaluate risks appropriately.
REGISTER FOR MODULE 2 - Mar. 26, 2025 - 1 TO 2 P.M.
The workshops are hosted by Public Safety’s Research Security Centre. Please use your @ontariotechu.ca email to register.
-
Module 3: Demystifying the International Student Immigration Process
The purpose of this presentation is to provide insight on the immigration process for international students and to explain how prospective applicants are security screened for admissibility.
The presentation will provide an overview on the immigration forms, supporting documents and requirements for a study permit. The roles and responsibilities of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) and its security screening partners will be detailed. Case studies are included within the presentation to help demonstrate the process.
REGISTER FOR MODULE 3 - Feb. 11, 2025 - 1 to 2 p.m.
The workshops are hosted by Public Safety’s Research Security Centre. Please use your @ontariotechu.ca email to register.
-
Module 4: Know before you Export - Canada’s Export and Brokering Controls
The presentation aims to increase knowledge about Canada’s export controls regime, what is controlled and why; explain how research institutions and academia may be subject to export controls; show how to apply for an export permit; and provide a list of resources and contacts for reference.
REGISTER FOR MODULE 4 - Apr. 8, 2025 - 1 TO 2 P.M.
The workshops are hosted by Public Safety’s Research Security Centre. Please use your @ontariotechu.ca email to register.
-
Module 5: Sanctions 101
The presentation will provide an overview of Canada's current sanctions measures, best practices on how to conduct due diligence to verify sanctions, and information on how to apply for a permit, if one is required. Sanctions have implications for Canadian educational institutions, affecting research collaborations and funding opportunities, as well as how researchers and other academic personnel engage with international partners and entities in countries subject to Canada’s sanctions.
-
Module 6: Travelling Safely - Protecting Your Research While Travelling Abroad
This module will provide a global overview of the threat environment when travelling, a summary of techniques used by foreign governments to gain advantage of your research, and best practices to follow before, during, and after your trip.
-
Module 7: Conducting Open-Source Due-Diligence
This module provides an overview of open-source due-diligence techniques for researchers to use when evaluating the risks related to their potential partners. The outcome of this module will enhance researchers' ability to find relevant information using open-source methods.
An Overview of Research Security Policies and Guidelines
Research Security in Canada
The Government of Canada acknowledges that open and collaborative research is indispensable to pushing the boundaries of science and addressing complex economic and societal challenges. Nonetheless, Canada is raising awareness of potential research security risks and taking the necessary precautions to ensure the work is secure.
Therefore, in collaboration with the Government of Canada–Universities Working Group, the Government of Canada released two new measures to integrate national security considerations into the development, evaluation and funding of Canadian research opportunities.
On January 16, 2024 the Ministers of Innovation, Science and Industry; Health; and Public Safety, Democratic Institutions and Governmental Affairs announced the Sensitive Technology Research and Affiliations of Concern (STRAC) policy.
This policy requires the transparent disclosure of:
- Research advancing sensitive technology areas, AND
- Affiliations with organizations of concern.
The National Security Guidelines for Research Partnerships (NSGRP) integrates national security considerations into the development, evaluation and funding of research partnerships. The Guidelines, released in July 2021, are aimed to better position researchers, research organizations and Government funders to undertake consistent, risk-targeted due diligence of potential risks to research security, requiring:
- A Risk Assessment Form to assess the research area and partner, and
- A risk identification and mitigation plan.
Research Security in Ontario
Ontario is implementing steps to ensure that national and provincial security within our world-class research ecosystem is of the utmost priority. The Ministry of Colleges and Universities has released the Ministry of Colleges and Universities' Research Security Guidelines for Ontario Research Funding Programs.
The RS Guidelines apply to the Ontario Research Fund Programs and requires:
- Disclosure of collaborations with organizations of concern AND involvement with foreign entities
- A risk checklist
- A risk identification and mitigation plan
Further Reading:
-
- Tri-agency guidance on STRAC
- Tri-agency guidance on NSGRP
- MCU Tool for University Research: Mitigating Economic and Geopolitical Risk Checklist
- More Guidelines and Tools to Implement Research Security – Safeguarding Your Research Portal
Research Security and Travel
- Travel Security Guide for Researchers and Staff
- Mobile device guidance for high-profile travellers *new
Rental Laptop Program
The rental laptop program is an optional program for faculty and staff seeking to further protect their data and privacy while travelling internationally. Ontario Tech IT Services will provide the rental laptop and the fee is $30 for travel less than 1 month in duration. Researchers must pay the fee via their eligible funds.
Requests should be submitted 1 week prior to travel and must include a 15-digit university account number for billing XXXXXX-XXXX-XXXXX.
SUBMIT A REQUEST FOR A RENTAL DEVICE FOR TRAVEL
IT Services can provide guidance to ensure data and rental devices are optimized for safeguarding research information.
Request technical guidance for Travel
Questions about Research Security at Ontario Tech?
Interested in a Research Security consultation?