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.
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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..
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AAU, along with other higher education organizations, joined a letter led by ACE to the House Committee on Education and the Workforce regarding the “Defending Education Transparency and Ending Rogue Regimes Engaging in Nefarious Transactions (DETERRENT)” Act.
AAU and APLU submitted a joint letter urging the House and Senate Armed Service Committees to enact policies that support and protect the government-university partnership and to reject measures that undermine the United States’s ability to out-innovate our competitors in the FY24 National Defense Authorization Act measures S.2226 and H.R.2670.
AAU joined APLU and COGR in submitting comments to the National Science Foundation on the final version of the common disclosure forms for use in submission of research applications.
Research security provisions within the FY24 NDAA, sorted by topic.
