The Government has launched Ireland’s first National Research Security Guidelines, which aim to protect Ireland’s research, innovation and economic competitiveness, while supporting international collaboration.
The guidelines establish a coherent national framework for identifying, assessing and managing security risks associated with international research partnerships.
The new framework comes at a time when governments around the world are responding to increasing concerns about intellectual property theft, covert technology transfer, foreign interference in research governance, cyber threats, and the misuse of sensitive research.
Launching the guidelines, Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, James Lawless, said: “Ireland’s research system is among the most internationally connected in the world. That openness is one of our greatest strengths, but it must be matched by an ability to identify and manage emerging security risks.”
“These guidelines represent a significant step forward in ensuring that Ireland remains both open and secure as a global leader in research and innovation.”
“Countries around the world are taking research security much more seriously than they did even a few years ago. Ireland needs to do the same. This is about protecting valuable knowledge, supporting our researchers and making sure our research system remains open and trusted,” he said.
“What these guidelines do is provide a common framework so that research organisations across the country can build on that experience and take a consistent approach.”
The roll-out of the guidelines is already underway, with the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (DFHERIS) coordinating and supporting the implementations across research organisations.
Individual organisations will retain full autonomy in how they implement the guidelines, reflecting their primary role in managing research security within their institutions.
The publication of the guidelines follows the adoption by the Council of the European Union in May 2024 of a Recommendation on Enhancing Research Security.
The recommendation called on Member States to develop national frameworks, establish clear roles and responsibilities and align with EU-level tools and supports.
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