European Commission will anchor research security in legislation

Ekaterina Zaharieva, the European Commissioner for Start-ups, Research, and Innovation, has pledged to anchor research security in legislation, announcing its inclusion in the Commission’s upcoming proposal for a European Research Area Act on 28/10/2025.

During the European Flagship Conference on Research Security held in Brussels from 28 to 30/10/2025, several new EU initiatives were highlighted:

• the establishment of a new European Centre of Expertise on Research Security inside the European Commission to invest in the evidence base for policymaking and create a community of practice across the EU. This Centre is expected to be launched mid-2026;
• the creation of a due diligence platform to help researchers assess risks of international cooperation;
• a new common methodology for Member States to test the resilience of their research-performing organisations.

The Council adopted a Recommendation on Enhancing Research Security on 23/05/2024, providing a framework to manage risks in international research and innovation. It urges national authorities, funders and research…