Governments Increasingly Viewing Research as National Security, OECD Says
Countries reported 250 policy initiatives related to research security this year, an increase from last year and almost 10 times more than 2018, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development said in a study released last week. Over that same period, OECD said, the number of countries with research security measures rose from 12 to 41, highlighting a "major policy shift" in which governments are increasingly viewing science and technology as "pillars of national and economic security."
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A heightened focus on research security also is straining international collaboration, OECD said, especially as researchers grow more cautious about making sure they comply with all research restrictions. "This slowdown reflects tightening national oversight and growing geopolitical sensitivities around international partnerships," the organization said. "Many of these reflect legitimate concerns about misappropriation of scientific know-how, dual-use research or intellectual property rights, yet they also test the principles of open science."
OECD said policymakers face the challenge of striking the "right balance" between protecting sensitive research and fostering international collaboration. It recommended that government officials work with the research community to "implement proportionate, risk-based measures that protect research and promote trusted international collaborations," including by sharing best practices, fostering dialogue among the science and security community, building "capacity" in universities and research institutions to assess and manage risks, and more.
"Protecting research does not mean closing doors," OECD said. "When managed well, research security can reinforce trust, integrity and resilience in the global science system, ensuring that international collaboration remains a driver of shared progress rather than a source of vulnerability."