Collaborations and partnerships are fundamental tenets of knowledge creation and mobilization. But in the context of research security, due diligence about collaborations and partnerships can help protect against misappropriation of research knowledge and outcomes.
Even when the ultimate intention of the researchers involved may be open knowledge sharing and publication, research partnerships may be exploited in a way that provides privileged and unauthorized access to their research before it is ready to be shared and could compromise sensitive information or research knowledge that is not intended to be publicly available (ISED, 2022).
Collaborations
Establishing and following best practices when collaborating with fellow researchers, scholars and knowledge users, help safeguard your research at each stage of the relationship.
Knowing your collaborators and learning about their connections and networks can assist you in evaluating the potential for threats posed to your research. Collaborators can include visiting students/faculty, researchers at collaborating institutions, staff/personnel at private-sector or non-profit organizations, or even government representatives.
Collaborators may have different intentions for your research project than the stated goals or may wish to use the research for their own priorities or gains. In addition, outside of a formal research agreement there may be less recourse when something goes awry. Before engaging in a collaboration, some considerations include:
- What are your collaborator’s goals and objectives for the shared research outcomes? How do they intend to benefit from the research?
- Could your collaborator be compelled to transfer research knowledge or results to serve another state's economic, security or national interest at your expense?
- Has the collaborator behaved ethically and transparently in their past work and in their dealings with you so far?
- Can you verify the collaborator and their research work history?
- Is the potential collaborator employed by, appointed to, or conducting research in, a region where there are no distinctions between civil and military applications?
- Has the collaborator been transparent about any relationships they hold, or activities they engage in, that could create potential conflicts of interest or commitment?
Continue to evaluate your connections and relationships throughout your collaborations and practice due diligence as your collaboration evolves.
Partnerships
While engaging in formal research partnerships with non-academic (e.g. private companies) and/or international research organizations, we should be mindful to proactively and appropriately mitigate potential threats to research security throughout the partnership.
Knowing your research partners and establishing a relationship based on transparency, shared interests, goals and outcomes can support research security and a successful partnerships. Special consideration should be taken when collaborating with organizations to advance technologies that are considered sensitive by the Government of Canada, or those which could have dual military and civilian applications. Researchers should also consider that collaboration with international organizations in jurisdictions where laws or rules regarding knowledge and intellectual property transfer may differ significantly from Canada could pose unique challenges to certain projects.
Some considerations may include:
- What are your partner’s goals and objectives for the shared research outcomes? How will they benefit from the research?
- Are there any indications that your partner organization(s) could be subject to government influence, interference or control?
- Would the partner require access to university infrastructure to undertake the research?
- Has the partner engaged in ethical and transparent behaviours and practices?
- Is the potential partner located in a jurisdiction where there are few or no distinctions between civil and military research applications or knowledge transfer?
- Are there any legal, regulatory or university policy constraints on undertaking research with this partner?
- What do you already know about your partner’s other patents, investments and partnerships? Has your partner collaborated with another entity on a sensitive or dual-use research area?
- Have you come across any information that doesn’t line up with what your partner has told you, suggesting a lack of candor or transparency on their part?
Continue to evaluate your connections and relationships throughout your collaborations and practice due diligence as the partnership evolves.
Best Practices in Collaborations and Partnerships
Understanding your research partner(s) and knowing your collaborators allows the research to proceed with confidence, knowing that potential risks have been identified and mitigated.
Consider how you will:
- Raise awareness and build capacity across your research team to understand and apply research security principles;
- Take time to conduct appropriate due diligence on all research team members, and ensure that the partner’s objectives align with the research priorities for the project;
- Discuss research objectives with all research team members to support common understanding;
- Develop a plan for how and when you will share details about the project, including publication, conferences, teaching materials, mass media, social media and personal communication; and
- Have open discussions with your partners and organization(s) to identify potential or perceived risks.