Insights

Change is rarely comfortable. Whether it’s scaling down, restructuring, or adapting to new priorities, organisational change disrupts routines and challenges assumptions. The systems and habits that worked in steady times can quickly become obstacles when the ground shifts beneath you. In times of change, clinging to old rules can feel safe but it can also hold you back. What made sense yesterday might not serve you today. Navigating change isn’t just about survival; it’s abo

The research security landscape in Europe is experiencing rapid change, a growing drive for cooperation, and increasing maturity in risk management approaches. Drawing on our latest survey data and discussions from leading research managers in the Stronger Cooperation, Safer Collaboration project, we observed both common trends and persistent challenges in how research teams now perceive and operationalise risk. A Shift Towards Flexibility and Proportionality Our findings sho

Universities are engines of innovation and knowledge. In today’s world, their digital presence makes them prime targets for cybercriminals and hostile actors. Australia’s top academic institutions have learned, sometimes painfully, that research security is now as much about robust digital defenses as it is about physical lab locks. Case studies from across the country reveal what’s truly at stake in the digital dimension and what the global research community can learn from

As research becomes increasingly global, so too do the challenges of securing it. At the upcoming EU Flagship Conference on Research Security in Brussels later this month, Sapna Marwaha will be presenting on the topic of “Global Perspectives on Research Security”, offering a nuanced view of how institutions across regions are navigating the complex landscape of research risk.

Academic conferences are the lifeblood of research—places to share findings, forge collaborations, and grow careers. But every seasoned academic knows the stress of packing: What if you forget your slides? Your poster? But there’s a packing mistake you may not have considered—one with consequences far graver than showing up without business cards. It’s the risk of unwittingly becoming part of a research security incident at airport security.

In today’s interconnected research landscape, security is no longer a niche concern. It’s a strategic imperative. Yet across Europe, national responses to research security remain fragmented and inconsistent. While some nations have regulatory frameworks, others rely on softer, less centralised measures and some are yet to implement frameworks at all. This lack of harmonisation is more than a policy gap; it’s a growing risk to the integrity and competitiveness of internationa

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 UK’s new security strategy shifts the focus to resilience and promises a new research security strategy in time. The foundations of any resilient sector are built on the security, engagement, and development of its people. Yet, despite much attention through the research culture agenda in recent years, precarity remains prominent within the research ecosystem. The consequences are not just personal—they are structural, undermining organisational and sector resilience. As

In this new article for Research Professional News, Better research is not a luxury, but it needs a collective effort, Sapna Marwaha challenges the idea that improving research culture, integrity, and security is a “nice to have.” Instead, she argues it’s essential—and more achievable when the sector pools its efforts.

As we approach the release of our brand new report, "Stronger cooperation, safer collaboration: driving research security cooperation...

Our session, titled “Diversifying Research Governance: The Use of Shadow Committees to Enhance Inclusive Participation in Research...

Each one of us here is a link in the connection between anti-poor legislation, gay shootings, the burning of synagogues ...