Trusted research and innovation
Trusted Research and Innovation is a term used by the UK government and the research and innovation sector and aims to secure the integrity of the system of international collaboration, which is vital to the continued success of research and innovation in the UK.
It is particularly relevant to researchers in STEM subjects, dual-use technologies, emerging technologies and commercially sensitive research areas.
Key messages
There are 3 key areas to consider:
- Know who you are working with
- Conduct due diligence on the partner and individuals involved in the project
- Understand the risks related to the research activity
- Is this a controlled technology? Could it be dual use? Could it be misused?
- Have a plan to keep data/IP safe
- How are you going to share data securely?
There is further information on these key considerations in the Guidance for Researchers.
Advice and guidance materials
The Trusted Research advice and guidance has been produced by the UK’s in consultation with the research and university community and is designed to help the UK's world-leading research and innovation sector get the most out of international scientific collaboration.
All University staff have a responsibility to reflect on their work and partnerships, including collaborators and funders, and to identify and mitigate the risks of hostile interference. As such they should ensure familiarity with the advice and guidance on how to protect research on the following website includes details to:
- Identify the potential risks and make informed decisions around those risks
- Conduct international collaborations confidently, safely, and securely
- Protect intellectual property, sensitive research, and personal information
- Protect research and staff from potential theft, misuse, and exploitation
UKRI has published its and any researchers funded by UKRI should make themselves familiar with these principles by carefully reading the full UKRI guidance.
See below for further information and guidance on the 4 main aspects of the University’s trusted research and innovation and national security support.