Working group Track D
Research security
The Research security working group develops the vocabulary required by NSPM-33 in the US, the UK NPSA Trusted Research programme, the EU's Tackling R&I Foreign Interference toolkit and analogous policy in Australia, Canada and Japan. It defines foreign-component, dual-use research of concern (DURC), sensitive-technology and disclosure terms in a way that distinguishes legitimate international collaboration from genuine risk. The group works closely with the integrity WG so the line between integrity, security and ordinary international research is held precisely.
Charter and scope
What this working group covers
The Research security working group develops the vocabulary required by NSPM-33 in the US, the UK NPSA Trusted Research programme, the EU's Tackling R&I Foreign Interference toolkit and analogous policy in Australia, Canada and Japan. It defines foreign-component, dual-use research of concern (DURC), sensitive-technology and disclosure terms in a way that distinguishes legitimate international collaboration from genuine risk. The group works closely with the integrity WG so the line between integrity, security and ordinary international research is held precisely.
- NSPM-33 Common Disclosure Form vocabulary and equivalents
- Foreign-component and current-and-pending disclosure
- Dual-use research of concern (DURC) categorisation
- Sensitive-technology lists and controlled research areas
- Trusted Research (UK NPSA) and Five Eyes security framings
- Distinguishing security concerns from xenophobic over-reach
- International collaboration documentation standards
Composition
Current composition
Chair
Applications under review
Candidates are being assessed for the 2026 forming round. Two-year term, renewable once.
Submit your candidacy →Co-chair
Accepting candidates
Optional second chair, prioritised for regional or sector balance.
Submit your candidacy →Community seats
Accepting candidates for 12 seats
Seats are allocated against a published rubric covering domain expertise, institutional diversity, regional balance, and an explicit slot for early-career researchers.
Apply for a community seat →Deliverables
Planned and delivered deliverables
- NSPM-33 + UK + EU + AU + CA disclosure cross-walk
- DURC categorisation reference
- Sensitive-technology list disambiguation table
- Trusted-Research vocabulary aligned with UK NPSA guidance
- Implementer guidance for research-security officers
Recent activity
Working-group cadence and milestones
Illustrative working-group cadence for the 2026 forming round. Substantive deliverables and meeting minutes will be linked here as the group convenes.
2026-05-15 · Milestone
Working group forming — call for chair candidates
Open call for chair and co-chair of the Research security working group. Candidates are under review.
2026-04-22 · Release
Domain scope confirmed for v2026.2
Scope of the Research security domain confirmed against the v2026.2 dictionary release plan.
2026-03-10 · Added
Forming round announced
CASRAI announced the 2026 forming round for all 24 working groups, with seat allocations and review rubric published.
Open consultations
Currently in public comment
Currently none open. Subscribe via /get-involved/comment for future calls.
External bodies
Standards and organisations we work with
Going deeper on CASRAI
Related CASRAI guidance
Adjacent working groups
Related working groups
How to join
Apply to a seat on this working group
This working group is receiving candidates for the 2026 forming round. The application is short — name, institution, ORCID iD (optional), the seat you are applying for, and a paragraph on why this domain. Decisions are returned within four weeks of the close of the open-call window.
FAQ
Frequently asked
- What is Trusted Research?
Trusted Research is the UK's National Protective Security Authority (NPSA) programme that helps universities and researchers protect their work from unwanted knowledge transfer while preserving open international collaboration. It provides guidance on assessing risk in partnerships, funding sources and sensitive-technology areas without restricting legitimate research. The CASRAI Research security working group aligns its vocabulary with Trusted Research so that UK institutions can map their disclosure and risk-assessment terms to equivalent frameworks in the US, EU, Canada, Australia and Japan.
- Why does research security matter?
Research security matters because international collaboration is essential to research but can also be exploited to transfer sensitive technology, funding influence or dual-use knowledge without appropriate disclosure. Governments including the US, UK, EU, Canada, Australia and Japan have introduced disclosure and review requirements to separate genuine risk from ordinary academic exchange. Without shared vocabulary, institutions risk either under-reporting real concerns or over-restricting legitimate international partnerships. CASRAI's working group defines these terms precisely so security reviews stay proportionate and evidence-based rather than xenophobic overreach.
- What is NSPM-33?
NSPM-33 (National Security Presidential Memorandum 33) is a US policy directing federal research agencies to standardize disclosure requirements for researchers, including foreign-component and current-and-pending support information such as NSF and NIH Other Support instructions. It aims to protect federally funded research from foreign interference and undisclosed conflicts of interest while limiting unnecessary administrative burden. The CASRAI Research security working group develops the vocabulary needed to implement NSPM-33's Common Disclosure Form consistently, including definitions for dual-use research of concern (DURC) and sensitive-technology categorisation.
- What does this working group do?
The Research security working group is the community body that drafts, reviews and ratifies dictionary entries for the Research security domain. It maintains scope, cross-walks to adjacent standards and the cadence of public review. Its remit is summarised on this page; the canonical terms it stewards live at /dictionary/domain/research-security.
- Who can apply to join?
Working-group membership is open to qualified practitioners — researchers, research-office staff, librarians, publishers, repository managers, integrity officers, CRIS administrators, regulators and funders. Institutional membership is not required. The qualification test is competence and time, not affiliation. Apply via the working-group application form.
- What is the time commitment?
Cadence: Quarterly virtual sessions; two release windows per year (March and September).. Time commitment averages four hours per quarter for an active member, more for a chair. Asynchronous review happens between meetings via email. Chairs are recognised on the editorial masthead and serve a two-year term, renewable once.
- How are seats allocated?
Each working group has 12 community seats plus a chair and (optionally) a co-chair. Seats are filled by an open call reviewed against a published rubric: domain expertise, institutional diversity, regional balance, and an explicit slot for early-career researchers. Applications for the 2026 forming round are open and candidates are currently under review — see how to apply.
- Can my institution sponsor a seat?
Institutional sponsorship is welcome but is not a route to a guaranteed seat. Sponsors support meeting infrastructure, public-comment publication and contributor honoraria; they receive named acknowledgement on the working-group page and in release notes. Sponsorship enquiries go to [email protected]. Seat selection remains on merit.
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