2025 Research Security Conference: Navigating New Domestic and Global Frontiers

The 2025 Research Security Conference: Navigating New Domestic and Global Frontiers was held from June 3-4, 2025, at the University of British Columbia’s Point Grey campus. 

The conference, which was hosted by the Research Security team from UBC’s Office of the Vice-President, Research and Innovation, was convened with the intention to build capacity and share information among a growing Canadian and international community of professionals whose roles include a focus on research security. A report, downloadable at the links below, summarizes the major discussions of the event. 

Across two days of discussions, panels and breakout sessions, the conference participants shared a variety of approaches and considerations from developing and implementing research security programs and policies at their institutions. Conference participants, which included UBC researchers, were also able to share their perspectives relating to government research security policies, including some unintended effects of those policies on their work and research teams. 

Conference participants highlighted several common themes and recommendations throughout the discussions, including: 

  • Openness in research is critical to maintaining Canada’s research competitiveness. Canada must continue to engage with international partners to be successful, and participants reiterated that open research and research security go hand-in-hand. 
  • Canada’s approach to research security is informing international frameworks. However, to support successful adoption of those frameworks, international jurisdictions should consider aligning requirements or processes when possible. 
  • Funding and support for research security varies among Canadian institutions. Small and medium-sized institutions could benefit from greater access to resources and support from relevant governments to implement research security frameworks. 
  • Recent guidelines and policies released by the Government of Canada have provided a useful framework for implementing practices that safeguard research. Ongoing information sharing and competency-building are required to further support the successful implementation of research security protocols across Canadian institutions. 
  • The Canadian research community has observed unintended effects from the stronger implementation of research security protocols in recent years. These effects often relate to misconceptions around what collaborations are permissible, and fears of government scrutiny or restrictions that prevent the timely execution of research. 
  • Research support professionals should continue to engage in collaborations and knowledge-sharing with each other relating to research security, such as through the informal network known as “Team Canada”, to support the creation and widespread adoption of best practices at Canadian research institutions. The goal is to support a Canadian research ecosystem that remains as open as possible and as secure as necessary. 
To read the full conference report, download the PDF files below. 

Part of the VP Research & Innovation portfolio

UBC Research Security

Suite 580, Walter C. Koerner Library, 1958 Main Mall
Vancouver, BC Canada
E-mail research.security@ubc.ca

UBC receives support for managing its research enterprise from the federal Research Support Fund.

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