Managing risks, enabling openness: CESAER shares recommendations on research security in FP10 with EU institutions

As the EU institutions develop new research security measures, universities face the practical challenge of managing risks while sustaining the international partnerships that underpin scientific excellence. An effective European approach to research security must empower them to do both.

Building on our 2025 input note advocating for a collective approach to research security, CESAER’s latest input note dated 10 November 2026, ‘Managing risks, enabling openness: strengthening research security across Europe’, draws on the experience of universities of science and technology to set out practical recommendations for the EU institutions.

• The full input note is available here for download and dissemination (PDF).

The input note focuses on three priorities: (i) proportionate research security measures in the EU’s framework programme for research and innovation (FP10), (ii) a European due-diligence platform, and (iii) a European centre of expertise on research security.

CESAER highlights the need for clear responsibilities, proportionate risk assessments and adequate resources for universities, while safeguarding academic freedom and institutional autonomy. Moreover, universities should be closely involved in designing and testing the tools currently under development.

The Commission’s Implementation Dialogue on Research Security, held in Brussels on 10 November 2026, explored practical implementation challenges related to research security and the need for European and national support. Represented by CESAER Vice President Ena Voûte (Pro Vice Rector TU Delft) and Advisor for Research Vincent Klein Ikkink, CESAER handed over its input note addressing these issues to Ekaterina Zaharieva, European Commissioner for Startups, Research and Innovation, following the dialogue.

CESAER and its Members stand ready to contribute their expertise to make these measures effective and workable in practice. Our Task Force Openness of Science & Technology is our association’s lead task force in developing recommendations, and sharing best practices amongst Members, on research security.

For more information, please contact our Advisor for Research Vincent Klein Ikkink.