America's leading research universities guard our nation's security by protecting knowledge, trade secrets, and classified information from foreign interference. In fact, AAU members have a vested interest in making sure this is the case. AAU works closely with its members and the government to ensure that appropriate security measures are in place at all times. Our members also work hard to strike a balance between two key priorities. One, that research must remain open to succeed. The integrity of our nation's research depends on it. On the other hand, some sensitive data must also be protected. AAU and APLU have jointly written a guide to help our members deal with this issue. The guide provides principles and values that steer our actions and helps universities limit risks.
Body
As lawmakers consider measures related to securing federally funded research data and intellectual property, it is important to understand the current state of play for research security in the country to avoid new requirements that are duplicative, unnecessary, or counterproductive
One pager for advocacy focused on securing scientific research against foreign threats.
AAU Statement on the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology Hearing "Examining Federal Science Agency Actions to Secure the U.S. Science and Technology Enterprise."
This resource document identifies key terms; effective practices proposed by institutions and government and non-government entities; links to various government and non-government entity lists, and topical analysis and proposed policy recommendations in several key areas..
Search Our Key Issues Library
Browse recent items or search for a specific topic or document.
AAU joined APLU, ARL, and COGR to submit a letter to the NIH Office of Science Policy expressing their strong support for NIH's vision for standardizing metadata and PIDs.
AAU joined ACE and 4 other higher education associations in sending a letter to the House Committee on Education & Workforce Leadership expressing their concerns on H.R.1048, the "Defending Transparency an Ending Rogue Regimes Engaging in Nefarious Transactions (DETERRENT)" Act.
As lawmakers consider measures related to securing federally funded research data and intellectual property, it is important to understand the current state of play for research security in the country to avoid new requirements that are duplicative, unnecessary, or counterproductive
Backgrounder | Science & Security | National Institutes of Health | National Science Foundation | Department of Defense | Department of Energy
Chart summarizing the research security provisions contained in the final agreement of the FY25 NDAA.
AAU responds to the Department of Justice's NPRM regarding preventing access to U.S. sensitive personal data and government-related data by countries of concern or covered persons. AAU requests clarification on whether this applies to non-commercial basic research and agrees with COGR that various categories of ‘omic data encompass a wide set of measurements related to human physiological, pathological, or genetic measurements that are used to help understand basic mechanisms or functions of human health states and that do not contain identifiable information.
