The federal granting agencies—the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC)—are committed to providing Canada’s research community with the most up-to-date information and best practices to safeguard their research and to mitigate research security risks. In support of this commitment, we are pleased to announce the publication of new Tri-agency guidance on research security.

This new webpage provides up-to-date guidance for the research community, with regards to the implementation of research security measures by the federal granting agencies. We encourage all members of the research community to familiarize themselves with this guidance, as well as the linked policies, guidelines, and resources provided by the Government of Canada.

Included in this webpage is the Tri-agency guidance on the Policy on Sensitive Technology Research and Affiliations of Concern (STRAC Policy), which describes the granting agencies’ harmonized approach to implementing the STRAC Policy. Detailed information, including the attestation form, procedures, resources, and frequently asked questions are now available. This webpage also includes Tri-agency guidance on the National Security Guidelines for Research Partnerships, as well as a list of recommended research security resources.

We are committed to providing Canada’s research community with the most up to date information and best practices designed to reduce research security risks. A dedicated webinar series for Research Grant Office/Research Security staff will be communicated by invitation. Additional webinars for the broader research community will be available soon.

We will continue to support and work with the research community, to safeguard Canada’s research alongside our continued commitments to open science, international collaboration, and to equity, diversity and inclusion. Together, we can cultivate a strong, globally competitive research and innovation system in Canada where the outcomes of Canada’s research and development are realized by those that conduct it and for the benefit of Canadians.

For questions or comments, please contact the relevant granting agency:

NSERC: researchsecurity@nserc-crsng.ca.ca
CIHR: support-soutien@cihr-irsc.gc.ca 
SSHRC: researchsecurity-securiterecherche@sshrc-crsh.gc.ca

To learn more about the Canada Foundation for Innovation’s implementation of research security measures, please consult its dedicated guidance page.