Insights

South Africa’s research sector is vibrant and internationally connected, yet recent events have shown that gaps in digital and operational infrastructure can be exploited, risking both research integrity and essential service delivery. Several specific case studies highlight the realities and lessons learned as the country strengthens its research security posture.

The 2025 National Security Strategy (NSS) highlights research security as a core concern for safeguarding the UK’s economic, technological, and strategic interests. Here's what the NSS tells us about the promise of a new research security strategy: Strategic Importance The NSS positions research security alongside economic security and national resilience. It recognises the UK's research and innovation assets as critical to maintaining a competitive and secure position global

When thinking about security, we often think about how we keep threats out: cyber defences, building access controls, travelling with clean devices. Yet, recent years have emphasised uncomfortable truths: insider threats can be embedded deep within in research communities. Two case studies underscore how this can happen (both intentionally and unintentionally).

At Formation, we know that the research and innovation sector doesn’t stand still. It evolves quickly—shaped by policy shifts, funding changes, talent shortages, and new security and compliance demands. Responding to these pressures often requires more than capacity. It needs experience, agility, and trust. That’s why we’re exploring a new service: Formation Fractional.

Nationality is often central to research due diligence, with universities and institutions screening international collaborators or staff based on citizenship... However, notable espionage incidents—including recent cases in Norway—expose the shortcomings of over-reliance on nationality as a risk filter. Here’s why nationality-led due diligence is too blunt a tool for a complex, global research and innovation ecosystem.

Our Founder, Sapna Marwaha, was delighted to engage with the team behind the recently published report, Trusted Research & Innovation: How Knowledge Leakage Affects the Research & Innovation Ecosystem by the Innovation and Research Caucus (IRC), as they pulled together their findings. The report offers a comprehensive exploration of how knowledge leakage affects the research and innovation ecosystem—particularly in the context of national and economic security. 

The direction of travel for research security in the UK is an increasing focus on specific countries.