Overview of the keynote
On 30 October, a pivotal moment for Europe’s research security landscape unfolded as Lauriane Héau, a respected SIPRI researcher, delivered the keynote at the first European Union Flagship Conference on Research Security. The event marked a milestone in aligning security considerations with the EU’s research agenda, with Héau presenting a policy paper that distilled core findings and practical recommendations for policymakers, research institutions, and industry partners.
Key findings of the policy paper
Héau’s presentation highlighted several critical takeaways. First, she emphasized the need for robust governance structures that clearly delineate responsibilities across universities, funding agencies, and national security bodies. The policy paper argues for standardized risk assessment frameworks that can be applied across member states, enabling timely identification of vulnerabilities in research supply chains. Second, the work calls for stronger collaboration channels between research security experts and scientific communities, ensuring that security considerations do not stifle innovation but rather enable resilient, high-impact research. Third, Héau underscored the importance of data protection, dual-use threat awareness, and ethical guidelines that keep pace with rapid technological advancements.
Implications for EU policy and funding
The keynote outlined concrete steps for the European Union to bolster research security without compromising scientific excellence. These include integrating security criteria into grant evaluation, funding cross-border security pilots, and establishing a centralized repository of best practices and incident learnings. By linking security policy with funding decisions, the EU can incentivize institutions to invest in secure research practices, risk-aware project design, and robust incident response capabilities. The policy paper also recommends enhanced information sharing among member states, including threat intelligence on cyber and physical risks that could disrupt critical research programs.
Panel discussion highlights
During one of the breakout sessions, Héau joined policymakers, university leaders, and industry representatives to discuss practical implementation. The dialogue focused on creating scalable security programs that can be adapted to diverse research environments across the EU. Attendees debated the balance between open scientific collaboration and the need to safeguard sensitive information. The consensus underscored that effective research security requires not only technical controls but also a culture of security-minded leadership and ongoing education for researchers and administrators alike.
Next steps for policymakers and institutions
In closing, Héau urged EU authorities to translate the conference insights into actionable policy instruments. Key recommendations include formalizing a European governance framework for research security, accelerating the deployment of shared security tools, and fostering public-private partnerships to strengthen resilience. For research institutions, the message is clear: embed security considerations into project lifecycles, invest in risk-aware governance, and participate actively in EU-wide knowledge exchanges to stay ahead of evolving threats.
Conclusion
The EU Flagship Conference on Research Security, with Lauriane Héau’s keynote, signals a proactive shift in how Europe approaches the intersection of scientific progress and national security. As research ecosystems grow more interconnected, the alignment of policy, funding, and practice will be crucial to sustaining innovation while protecting critical knowledge assets.
