Insights

When universities think about research security, they often focus on collaborations, funding arrangements and institutional partnerships. Yet many of the cases that attract headlines only come to light at a very different point in the research lifecycle: when people, materials, data or knowledge cross a border. Over the past few years, a number of high-profile cases have involved researchers travelling internationally, moving biological materials between countries, or beco

A few years ago, research security looked like a convergence story, with shared frameworks and increasingly aligned expectations. Through the G7, OECD, Five Eyes and other forums, countries have worked towards shared principles for protecting sensitive research while preserving the benefits of international collaboration. At the flagship European research security conference of 2025, much of the discussion centred on whether harmonisation or alignment was the more realisti

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.