Academic Research Security Program

About Us

The Academic Research Security Program (RSEC) at Sandia National Laboratories engages with research stakeholders and policymakers across the globe to promote research security within higher education institutes and research performing organizations.

RSEC offers subject matter expertise and partnerships to empower higher education institutions, research performing organizations, and governments to protect cutting-edge research and intellectual property from foreign malign actors, through the following activities:

  • Hosting international workshops and webinars
  • Establishing regional consortiums on research security
  • Sponsoring visiting research scholars
  • Supporting the professional development of domestic and international research security champions

What is Research Security and Why is it Important?

Research Security refers to safeguarding a research enterprise against the misappropriation of research and development to the detriment of national or economic security, related violations of research integrity, and foreign government interference.

Research Security enables nations and organizations to protect one of their most critical and valuable assets: cutting-edge research. Through adoption of tailored due diligence, vetting, and risk mitigation practices, nations and organizations can safeguard their research against intellectual property theft and forced technology transfer without compromising an open and collaborative research environment.

What is Sandia National Laboratories?

Sandia National Laboratories (SNL) is a United States National Laboratory and a Federally Funded Research and Development Center based in Albuquerque, New Mexico. SNL operates on behalf of the U.S. Department of Energy and specializes in delivering essential science and technology to resolve the United States’ most challenging security issues. A strong science, technology, and engineering foundation enables Sandia’s mission through a capable research staff working at the forefront of innovation, collaborative research with universities and companies, and discretionary research projects with significant potential impact. Sandia has a long and distinguished history of conducting trainings with prominent international research and academic institutions to build their capacity to identify, prevent, counter, and reduce a variety of threats.

For more information, please feel free to reach out to the Academic Research Security Program at rsec@sandia.gov.