Advancing Secure Innovation through the Women Advance Fellowship

Empowering Women Leaders in Research Security and Innovation across Argentina, Nigeria, and South Africa

Women leaders in research and innovation frequently face unique obstacles not only in leadership development but also in navigating the complex landscape of research security and secure innovation. The Women Advance Fellowship sought to equip women participants from Argentina, Nigeria, and South Africa with the knowledge, skills, and mentorship necessary to lead securely and ethically in their fields, while fostering innovation that safeguards integrity, compliance, and ethical research practices.

Our Approach

Formation crafted a blended learning programme tailored to the critical intersection of leadership and research security, combining:

• On-Demand Learning Modules: Focused on secure innovation principles, governance of research security, risk mitigation in international collaborations, and leadership in ethical research management, designed for flexible, self-paced learning.

• Live Interactive Webinars: Facilitated deep dives into emerging research security challenges, case studies on secure innovation practices, and peer discussions on managing security risks in diverse socio-political contexts.

• One-to-One Mentoring: Personalised coaching that helped fellows integrate responsible research strategies into their career goals, address specific research security challenges in their environments, and develop action plans to foster secure innovation ecosystems.

This integrated approach ensured participants gained robust expertise in research security fundamentals alongside leadership and change management skills, enabling them to confidently navigate and lead initiatives with strong security and ethical standards.

The Impact

Participants reported growth not only in leadership confidence but also in their capacity to manage research security risks and promote secure innovation in their institutions and projects. 

Key impacts included:

• Greater understanding and practical application of research security frameworks and due diligence in international collaborations.

• Increased ability to lead change projects that enable more responsible research practices within their institutions.

• Strengthened peer networks focused on fostering secure, inclusive, and sustainable innovation ecosystems across continents.

• Personal mentoring outcomes that empowered fellows to influence institutional policies on research security and promote best practices within their sectors.

This fellowship advanced both the leadership and secure innovation capacities of women leaders, contributing to safer, more responsible research practices in Argentina, Nigeria, and South Africa.