New publication: Safeguarding Academia

Research security reflects efforts taken by individuals, institutions, and the federal government to protect their intellectual and economic interests from unauthorized access by foreign actors and entities. To help understand and mitigate the challenges the research community faces, the federal government (Office of the Director of National Intelligence) recently released a short publication entitled, Safeguarding Academia.

We encourage you to read and share with colleagues, post-docs, and students. It reflects the insights of our federal partners and includes a number of examples, including malign foreign talent recruitment programs (MFTRPs; see UW-4148).

The federal government has required all large research institutions to create research security programs that include training, travel disclosures, export control components, and increased attention to cybersecurity. These requirements come from National Security Presidential Memo (NSPM) 33 and the CHIPS and Science Act of 2022.

UW-Madison continues efforts to develop a compliant program on schedule in 2026. While this compliance effort relates to federal funding, it will represent best practices for everyone to protect their data, research, and intellectual property.

If you have questions about research security, export controls, foreign research collaborations, or related topics, please contact rsec@research.wisc.edu.