New framework safeguards Ireland's world-leading research sector against intellectual property theft, foreign interference and emerging security threats
Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, James Lawless TD, today launched Ireland's first-ever national Research Security Guidelines, marking a major milestone in protecting Ireland's research, innovation and economic competitiveness while supporting open international collaboration.
The guidelines establish, for the first time, a coherent national framework for identifying,
assessing and managing security risks associated with international research partnerships, bringing Ireland into line with evolving European and international best practice.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 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."
The Minister added: “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.”
The guidelines have been developed by officials in the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (DFHERIS) working closely with Government Departments, research funders and research-performing organisations, including universities and other higher education institutions.
Internationally, countries have documented cases of intellectual property theft, covert technology transfer, foreign interference in research governance, manipulation of peer review processes and attempts to exploit open academic environments to gain access to sensitive knowledge and technologies.
As one of the world’s most open and internationally connected research systems, Ireland is well positioned to benefit from global collaboration, but must also have the tools and frameworks needed to manage emerging risks.
Minister Lawless said: “Many institutions are already doing good work in this area. 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 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.
Ireland’s new guidelines reflect this European approach, recognising that research security and research openness are mutually reinforcing and that strong safeguards are essential to maintaining trusted international partnerships.
The implementation phase is now underway, with DFHERIS coordinating and supporting research-performing organisations as they operationalise their responsibilities under the framework. Research organisations will retain full autonomy in how they implement the guidelines, reflecting their primary role in managing research security within their institutions.
Click here to review the Research Security Guidelines.
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