Ulterior.live
Research security is increasingly vital in the global changing geopolitical climate. Research Funding Organisations (RFO) and Research Performing Organisations (RPO) are tasked with defining and identifying high-risk or improper relationships.

Research security means anticipating and managing risks of knowledge or technology misuse, foreign interference, or ethical violations that threaten national security, academic freedom, research integrity, and fundamental values. However, current workflows rely heavily on siloed data systems and manual reviews, providing an incomplete picture of organisational and national risks.

A central challenge is to balance these critical security concerns against the social and economic benefits of participating in open international scientific collaboration. This think tank will explore how RFOs can implement effective safeguards without creating a "chilling effect" that stifles innovation.

Discussion

Topics

The Current Landscape: How do you define the primary research security risks your organisation faces today? Specifically, managing risks like foreign interference, problematic knowledge transfers, and complex challenges posed by research with dual-use applications. How do you articulate the importance of such issues to stakeholders?

Practical Challenges & Best Practices: What are the biggest operational hurdles you face – such as data silos, uncovering hidden affiliations, and resource constraints? And what successful strategies or "best practices" have you implemented to overcome them?

The Path Forward (The Balance): Looking ahead, what solutions (whether policy, technology, or cultural) do you see for mitigating risk without creating undue administrative burdens or chilling the open, international collaboration that drives innovation?

SUBJECT MATTER EXPERT

Leslie McIntosh

Speaker 1

VP, Research Integrity and Security at Digital Science

Digital Science

Leslie D. McIntosh, PhD is the VP of Research Integrity and Security at Digital Science and dedicates her work to improving research, reducing disinformation, and increasing trust in science. As an academic turned entrepreneur, she founded Ripeta in 2017 to improve research quality and integrity. Now part of Digital Science, the Ripeta algorithms lead in detecting Trust Markers of research manuscripts and nefarious networks in science. She works globally to improve research quality, integrity, and security through developing the forensic scientometrics discipline. She has given hundreds of talks, including to the US-NIH, NASA, and World Congress on Research Integrity, and consulted with governments and institutions across the globe. Dr. McIntosh’s work was the most-read RetractionWatch post of 2022. In 2023, her influential ideas on achieving equity in research were highlighted in the Guardian and Science.

SUBJECT MATTER EXPERT

Juergen Wastl

Speaker 1

VP, Research Evaluation and Global Challenges, Digital Science at Digital Science

Digital Science

A molecular biologist and biochemist by training, Juergen Wastl has built a career at the intersection of research, data, and strategy across industry, government, funder and higher education. As part of Digital Science’s Thought Leadership team, he leads initiatives in research evaluation and global challenges by advising funders and policymakers on how to navigate the evolving geopolitical landscape of science. His work connects evidence-based evaluation with global policy priorities, fostering resilience, integrity, and innovation in research ecosystems. Before joining Digital Science, Juergen led the Research Information team at the University of Cambridge’s Research Strategy Office, overseeing research evaluation, analytics, and implementation of scholarly infrastructure. He also brings extensive consultancy experience supporting governments, funding agencies, and non-profit organizations across Europe and beyond in developing data-driven strategies for responsible and secure research.

ABOUT

Digital Science

Digital Science is a trusted partner providing research workflow solutions, and data and analytical insights for the research community. We believe in the power of research to shape the future, solve global challenges, and drive innovation that benefits everyone. From tracking research impact to supporting open research and data sharing, mapping the research landscape, enabling collaboration, and providing deep insights, analysis, and discovery, Digital Science has grown into a powerhouse of innovation, supporting every corner of the research ecosystem. Today, one of our strongest areas of growth is industry, as we leverage our technology and the power of AI to help enterprises work smarter, collaborate better, and push the boundaries of discovery.