Are Risk Appetites Evolving in Research Teams Across Europe?

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 showed a notable move away from rigid risk aversion towards greater flexibility and calculated openness among research institutions. According to pan-European polling, 45% of organisations now describe their risk appetite as “flexible”, 30% as “cautious”, 11% as “averse”, 9% as “open”, and 5% as “minimalist”. Within the report, we noted that these were "the most surprising response" as "universities and research organisations are often perceived as traditional and risk averse in their approach" and this represented a marked shift from the responses we had received in previous projects. We explored the reasons behind this shift at our launch event. Responses indicated a combination of factors with growing confidence and maturity, as well as increased competition and pressures.

Research Security Maturity: Early Stages with Signs of Progress

Most research teams that participated continue to operate at the earlier stages of the "trusted research maturity curve":

• 37% rate themselves at the “learning” stage (basic awareness, inconsistent process).

• 32% at “emerging” (developing, but uneven approaches).

• 26% at “functional” (dedicated resource and more consistent implementation).

• 5% at “integrated” (established, cross-institutional ownership).

• None reported “cultural” (fully embedded at all levels).

This signals a journey still in progress with a full cultural shift still a long-term aspiration. We found notable regional disparities: institutions in Western Europe are more likely to report “functional” status, while those in Central, Eastern, and Southern Europe are mostly at the “learning” stage.

What’s Driving Change?

Several key factors are shaping evolving risk appetites:

• Policy & Regulatory Change: The European Commission’s 2024 research security recommendations have compelled more transnational alignment and prompted institutions to recalibrate their internal strategies.

• Awareness of Threats: Concerns over insider risk, misuse of technology, and reputational threats have prompted more risk-based and proactive stances.

• Operational Realities: Limited resources and the drive for global competitiveness make strict risk aversion unattractive. Most organisations must balance opportunity and caution.

• Commitment to Fairness: There’s a widespread concern about inadvertently introducing discrimination, especially around nationality, and a desire to harmonise policies to protect both openness and equity in research.

• Desire for Collaboration: The appetite for coordinated, centralised resources and multi-country collaboration is strong.

  
  

Challenges on the Ground

As teams move towards more nuanced, risk-based management, several operational challenges remain:

• Resource constraints: Many teams lack funding and staff capacity for dedicated research security roles.

• Patchy access to tools: While commercial and open-source tools (e.g., Xapien, NexisDiligence, TIM Dual-Use Database, SciVal) can drive efficiency, their uptake is inconsistent and not evenly distributed. Only about 18% of surveyed institutions use third-party due diligence tools, and 33% use bibliometric tools.

• Fragmented approaches: National differences in guidelines and the absence of universally adopted frameworks create duplication and complexity for transnational projects.

• Need for training and case studies: Managers request more best practice sharing, targeted workshops, and access to implementation resources.

  
  

Opportunities for Stronger Cooperation

• Developing shared repositories, platforms for information exchange, and joint “train the trainer” programmes.

• Pursuing legislative standardisation and equitable international partnerships, especially to support partners in low and middle-income countries.

• Raising awareness and access to both free and commercial tools to “level up” lower-resource institutions.

  
  

Summary: The Road Ahead

The evolution of risk appetite in European research teams reflects both maturity and pragmatism: the willingness to assess, adapt, and innovate in the face of regulatory, geopolitical, and operational change. While the landscape is not uniform, the momentum is toward greater flexibility, proportionality, and collaboration.

A risk-aware and responsible, but open and equitable, research culture is the shared aspiration. Progress will depend on more harmonised approaches, investment in skills and tools, and an ongoing commitment to collaboration both within and across borders.