Commission announces new measures to strengthen research security

Today, Ekaterina Zaharieva European Commissioner for Startups, Research, and Innovation, announced new measures to strengthen research security across the EU at the inaugural European Flagship Conference on Research Security in Brussels.

For the first time, the Commissioner pledged to embed research security into law, including it in the Commission’s forthcoming European Research Area Act proposal. 

Commissioner Zaharieva said:

“In a borderless research area, there can be no weak links. By protecting research security across Europe, we will safeguard academic freedom, our open and trusted research system, and empower Member States to take action.” 

The inaugural European Flagship Conference on Research Security brought together 500 policymakers, experts, and practitioners from across Europe and international partner countries. In a display of joint commitment, 12 European R&I stakeholder associations answered the call to co-organise this event in a unique bottom-up approach. 

Research Security initiatives 

Other new EU initiatives highlighted at the conference are

1. the establishment of a new European Centre of Expertise on Research Security inside the European Commission
2. the creation of a due diligence platform to help researchers to assess risks of international cooperation
3. a new common methodology for Member States to test the resilience of their research-performing organisations

Background 

In recent years, discussions on strengthening research security have been ongoing in several Member States and at Union level, where various initiatives have been taken:

• In May 2024, the Council adopted its Council Recommendation on Enhancing Research Security. It provides the Union with a sound basis for addressing risks related to international R&I cooperation in today’s world.
• It recommends national authorities to develop research security policies, national funders to put in place robust safeguards and the research performers (such as universities) to introduce risk management processes (‘with academic freedom comes academic responsibility’).
• Public authorities should support the sector and empower researchers to take informed decisions about international cooperation.
• To this end, research security is included as a priority action in the next ERA policy agenda 2025-27, as adopted by the Council in May 2025.
• The Commission will monitor progress in the implementation: a Research Security Monitor report is being prepared.
• In addition, work is underway to establish a European Centre of Expertise on Research Security, to invest in the evidence base for policymaking and create a community of practice across the EU. This Centre is expected to be launched mid-2026.
• A public consultation on the forthcoming ERA Act proposal is ongoing.

More information

Strategic Autonomy and European Economic and Research Security

Press contact:

EC Spokesperson for Research, Science and Innovation