Challenges and recommendations for research security: Learning from research ethics and integrity.

Collaborative and open research combined with influential technological advancements and geopolitical tensions allow Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) and Research Performing Organisations (RPOs) to become prone to Research Security (RS) risks. Despite its recent conceptualization, RS has been swiftly recognised as a critical issue globally. Building upon existing guidance, it is necessary to adopt policy actions relatively quickly without creating new structures and by avoiding excessive procedural compliance. To this direction, the CHANGER consortium recommends the following policy actions integrating RS considerations with research culture of ethics and integrity, to build resilience to RS risks while ensuring freedom and openness of research : Policy recommendation 1: Establish a common understanding and promote RS as a shared responsibility within the research ecosystem. Policy recommendation 2: Leverage existing institutional procedures e.g. by adapting training programs on research ethics and integrity programs, to embed RS considerations in the research culture. Policy recommendation 3: Cultivate professional expertise in RS for specialists to act as advisors. Policy recommendation 4: Support capacity building through the development of new approaches and new tools to assess and manage RS risks. Concluding remarks. Leveraging experience and insights from research ethics and integrity infrastructure offers valuable opportunities to raise awareness and establish procedures for safeguarding RS. The proposed policy actions offer flexibility to meet specific research needs of each HEI and RPO, and are proportionate to related risks rising from each research project. They respect the autonomy of HEIs and RPOs and protect freedom of research. By fostering capacity-building for researchers and cultivating a culture of awareness, shared responsibility, and proactive responsiveness, the responsible internationalisation of research can be effectively realised.