Research at risk: Global challenges, international perspectives, and Canadian solutions
| Author | Alex Wilner,Sarah Beach-Vaive,Catherine Carbonneau,Graeme Hopkins,Félix Leblanc |
| DOI | http://doi.org/10.1177/00207020221118504 |
| Published date | 01 March 2022 |
| Date | 01 March 2022 |
| Subject Matter | Scholarly Essay |
Scholarly Essay
International Journal
2022, Vol. 77(1) 26–50
© The Author(s) 2022
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DOI: 10.1177/00207020221118504
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Research at risk: Global
challenges, international
perspectives, and Canadian
solutions
Alex Wilner, Sarah Beach-Vaive, Catherine Carbonneau,
Graeme Hopkins and F ´
elix Leblanc
Carleton University, Ottawa, ON, Canada
Abstract
Although traditionally viewed as paragons of international cooperation, research in-
stitutions and universities are becoming venues for hostile foreign activity. Research
security (RS) refers to the measures that protect the inputs, processes, and products
that are part of scientific research, inquiry, and discovery. While RS traces its roots to
the 1940s, global economic and research and development competition, the nexus
between dual-use technology and military power, a cluster of newly emerging in-
dustries, scientific responses to the COVID-19 pandemic, and societal shifts towards
digitization, combine to challenge RS in unique ways. With an eye on safeguarding
traditional notions of open science, our article refurbishes Canadian RS within the
context of emerging challenges and international responses. Detailing the legal, ex-
tralegal, illegal, and other ways in which RS is threatened, we use a comparative as-
sessment of emerging responses in the US, Australia, Japan, and Israel to draw lessons
for Canada.
Keywords
Research security, open science, cybersecurity, science, dual-use technology, export
controls, university research, national security
Corresponding author:
Alex Wilner, Carleton University, Norman Paterson School of International Affairs (NPSIA), Richcraft
Hall, 1125 Colonel By Drive, Ottawa, ON K1S 5B6, Canada.
Email: alex.wilner@carleton.ca
Although traditionally viewed as paragons of international cooperation, research in-
stitutions are increasingly becoming venues for hostile activity conducted by foreign
actors. The type of research targeted often relates directly to a country’s economic
prosperity and national security. Foreign governments, for instance, in geopolitical
competition with Canada and its allies, exploit the inherently open nature of its research
institutions to gain access to cutting-edge research and intellectual property. They do so
to acquire an economic, political, or strategic advantage. Indeed, high-profile instances
of data theft and foreign espionage on research institutes are increasingly common-
place. Research security (RS)—as a distinct sub-study of national security—refers to
the measures that protect the inputs, processes, and products that are part of scientific
research, inquiry, and discovery.Historically, RS traces its roots to the Cold War period,
an era characterized by state espionage of military technology; many of the RS ap-
proaches still in use today were first formulated to tackle these specific challenges. And
yet, contemporary RS is undergoing dramatic and uncertain change: global economic
and research and development (R&D) competition, the nexus between dual-use
technology and military power, emerging industries in space, robotics, computer
science, and nano and additive manufacturing, public health and scientific responses to
the COVID-19 pandemic, and larger societal shifts towards digitization, combine to
challenge contemporary RS in new and unique ways.
Canadian allies and other liberal democracies are exploring and enacting new
policies, strategies, and regulations for enhancing RS in response. Canada, as an
important global player in academic research, scientific discovery, and economic
development, has much to lose from evolving challenges to RS and much to learn from
international perspectives and responses. Unfortunately, the topic is largely overlooked
by Canadian scholarship, and only recently has the Canadian government begun raising
the alarm. In July 2021, for illustration, the Canadian Security Intelligence Service
(CSIS) “went into overdrive in an effort to warn universities and researchers”of the
evolving nature of international espionage. Since 2020, and within the backdrop of a
spike in malicious activity targeting Canadian pandemic and medical research, CSIS
began briefing thousands of researchers at hundreds of research and industry groups
and laboratories, warning them of the challenges ahead. CSIS acknowledged that part
of its larger goal in openly discussing RS with researchers was to “influence an ac-
ademic mindset”prevalent in Canada that champions scientific and international
openness at the potential expense of national and economic security.
1
Our article seeks to reapply and refurbish Canadian RS within the context of
emerging challenges and international responses with an eye on safeguarding tradi-
tional Canadian notions of open science.
2
It is presented in four sections. The first
1. JoeFriesen, “CSIS warns Canadian universities to be on alert for international espionage,”The Globe and
Mail, 26 July 2021.
2. This article is partially derived from a 2021 project conducted as part of the Capstone in Canadian Security
Policy course, taught by Professor Alex Wilner in collaboration with Government of Canada partners at
Public Safety Canada. The views contained herein are those of the authors alone.
Wilner et al. 27
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