Trusted Research

• New Zealand has an open and collaborative research and innovation system, and values academic freedom and research conducted independently by individuals and organisations.
• The government is actively seeking to increase the international connectedness of the research and innovation system.
• We welcome international students and research collaborations.

There are risks with international partnerships that should be identified and managed to prevent damaged reputations, lost intellectual property (IP), and harm to New Zealand’s national interests.

• Joint research can be misused by organisations and institutions in nations with interests and ethical values that are different from our own.
• Joint research can provide opportunities for people with hostile intent to access expertise, IT networks, and research.
• Applied research is vulnerable to exploitation, especially if you’re trying to solve a specific problem or develop a commercial application.
• A foreign state actor may target you as an individual researcher. You could also be targeted by an academic institution or overseas business  asking you to undertake research of strategic benefit to their country.

What are the risks to your research?

• Loss of trust
• Compromised integrity and legal compliance
• Over-reliance on a single source of funding
• Lost funding opportunities and financial losses
• Damaged reputations
  

If you are concerned about a potential collaboration, seek advice from the Research & Innovation team.  To protect your research, consider these main areas:

Collaborating With Research Partners

• Conduct due dilligence
• Check for conflict of interest
• Segregate research and control access
• Make security a feature of your funding proposal
• Protect partners
• Demonstrate transparency and maintain visibility
• Manage cyber security risks  for collaborating externally

Using Legal Frameworks

Research & Innovation and UC's legal department can advise on the following:

• Understanding foreign investment regulations under the Overseas Investment Act 2005 
• Understand the impact of contractual arrangements.
• Intitutional measures for increasing security.
• Know about export controls that apply to academic and other research.
• Be aware of legal obligations in foreign jurisdictions.
• Understand your legal obligations to protect personal information.
• Consider how to both publish academic research and protect it.