Claire Gray

Commission announces new measures to strengthen research security Research and innovation news alert: For the first time, the Commissioner pledged to embed research security into law, including it in the Commission’s forthcoming European Research Area Act proposal.

At the EU research security conference today, Commissioner Zaharieva announces that research security will embedded into law through the upcoming ERA act. research-and-innovation.ec.europa.eu/news/all-res...

Great to be here at the EU flagship research security conference Brussels today, tomorrow and Thursday. LERU have organised 2 sessions in this conference, one on talent mobility into the EU and one on ensuring researchers are mindful of research security risks when leaving the EU. #openandsecure

Research security policies risk a “stockyard paradox” that may weaken what they aim to protect - Impact of Social Sciences Research policy is increasingly focused on “security” and the protection of intellectual property, but what if these policies damage what they seek to protect?

‘ In an era of intense technological competition, the greatest security risk may not be knowledge theft, but knowledge isolation’ blogs.lse.ac.uk/impactofsoci...

A thought-provoking piece in @us.theconversation.com ‘Although rapamycin has generated billions of dollars in revenue, the Rapa Nui people have received no financial benefit to date. This raises questions about Indigenous rights and biopiracy, which is the commercialization of Indigenous knowledge.’

This is such a great article by @cesaer-eu.bsky.social secretary general Mattias Bjornmalm. A good postdoc can either make or break your PhD.

On a three day trip to Lund this week and so took full advantage of a spare hour or two in the agenda to have a refreshing and inspiring walk to and through Lund botanical garden. A lovely colourful array of common garden plants, a nursery of endangered Swedish plants, and some odd art.

China’s System of Mass Arbitrary Detention New research analyzing 1,545 prison sentences echoes U.N. concerns that arbitrary detentions “may constitute crimes against humanity.”

China’s System of Mass Arbitrary Detention
thediplomat.com/2025/03/chin...

Europe mulls boosting military R&D with civilian science funding Worried about regional security, bloc pushes forward on controversial “dual-use” approach

Europe mulls boosting military R&D with civilian science funding | Science | AAAS www.science.org/content/arti...

Scientific fraud has become an ‘industry,’ alarming analysis finds Sophisticated global networks are infiltrating journals to publish fake papers

Depressing to say the least.
Scientific fraud has become an ‘industry,’ alarming analysis finds | Science | AAAS www.science.org/content/arti...

My autism diagnosis didn’t derail my Ph.D. It put me on the right track “I’ve stopped believing I need to blend in to belong,” this researcher writes

An excellent and brave piece on the struggles felt by neurodivergent PhD students. My autism diagnosis didn’t derail my Ph.D. It put me on the right track | Science | AAAS www.science.org/content/arti...

So far so good on Horizon budget and (most) rules - Research Professional News “Tight connection” with competitiveness fund remains weakest element, says Kurt Deketelaere

So far so good on Horizon budget and (most) rules www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-euro...

'Expats don’t receive a lot of love in Brussels - here's why we matter' Derek Blyth has spent 35 years living as an expat in Brussels. Despite the many challenges, he says he's not going anywhere.

Expats don’t get a lot of love in Brussels) www.brusselstimes.com/belgium/1664...

Great to be in Aachen today and tomorrow for a meeting from the ENTRANCE group on ‘lessons learned from China: navigating experiences from Sino-European Cooperation for future global engagements. So far a very thought provoking meeting. Looking forward to more tomorrow. @fz-juelich.de RWTH Aachen.

Looking forward to the release of the #EULifeSciencesStrategy tomorrow. Anticipating news on #ATMPs, #onehealth, #biobasedeconomy, #industrialbiotechnology, and #skills development in the life sciences. #coordination #advice #skills #foresight

New publications on dual use provide strategic input for future EU R&I policies The Commission has published two independent expert reports on dual-use research and innovation (R&I), which contribute to a better understanding of technologies that can be used both for civilian and...

𝐌𝐚𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐄𝐔 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐈𝐧𝐧𝐨𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐈𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬: 𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐝𝐮𝐚𝐥 𝐮𝐬𝐞" & “𝐔𝐧𝐥𝐨𝐜𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐏𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐨𝐟 𝐃𝐮𝐚𝐥-𝐔𝐬𝐞 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐈𝐧𝐧𝐨𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧”- two new reports from the @ec.europa.eu on dual use issues. Timely and important research-and-innovation.ec.europa.eu/news/all-res...

New ethical framework published to guide the responsible sourcing of animal materials - UK Research Integrity Office 4 June 2025, We are pleased to announce the publication of the Ethical Framework for Obtaining Materials from Sentient Animals – a new resource to support research organisations and other stakeholders...

New ethical framework published to guide the responsible sourcing of animal materials published by @ukrio.bsky.social . ukrio.org/news/new-eth...

EUROPEAN RESEARCH SECURITY: THREAT PERSPECTIVES AND THE RESPONSES OF POLICY MAKERS AND RESEARCH PERFORMING ORGANISATIONS

Delighted that the report from Manchester Institute of Innovation Research on Research Security in Europe has been published. A must read!

research.manchester.ac.uk/en/publicati...

ENRIO Statement on Research Integrity and Scientific Freedom - ENRIO Research Integrity as a Safeguard for the Freedom of Scientific Research in Responsible International Collaboration

Good and timely statement by ENRIO on research integrity and academic freedom. www.enrio.eu/freedom/

‘it is often no longer possible to make a clear distinction between security-relevant and civil research, the council said. This leads to difficult trade-offs that often overwhelm individual scientists and institutions.’ Great point from @resprofnews.bsky.social

Mind the lab – Features – EMBO Representatives of research performing organizations met at a recent workshop hosted by EMBO to tackle the environmental impact of resource-intensive research

Looking forward to reading this : www.embo.org/features/min...

Another city, another work meeting and another excuse to spend some time at a botanical garden. This lovely one is the Hortus Botanicus in Leiden @unileiden.bsky.social

It is urgent that leading research universities leverage their international relationships to increase collaboration for collective societal benefit @germanu15.bsky.social, @u15ca.bsky.social @russellgroup.bsky.social, #Groupof8Australia, #RU11Japan, #LERU, and #AAU.

www.leru.org/files/News/G...

Viewpoint: Europe’s research community needs more clarity (and respect) Since Ursula von der Leyen started her second mandate at the helm of the European Commission, one thing has become abundantly clear: the EU needs to focus its efforts on defence and competitiveness so...

Spot on! sciencebusiness.net/fp10/viewpoi...

A safety manual for academics visiting America - Research Professional News Petra Boynton looks at what advice UK universities should give US-bound researchers and students

So sad to even think this is being thought about. A safety manual for academics visiting America www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-v....

Happiness is…. slowly wandering around a beautiful botanical garden.

Executive Summary - Biotech Americans are already familiar with how the Chinese government conducts economic warfare with crucial technologies such as semiconductors: corner the supply chain, then choke it to weaken the United S...

New US report notes the increasing importance of biotech in warfare. ‘While biology represents a paradigm shift in warfare, the Department of Defense (DOD) is not deploying biotechnology-enabled capabilities, leaving our military vulnerable’ www.biotech.senate.gov/final-report...

“My feeling is that we are seeing a fait accompli with regard to inclusion of military research within [EU] funding streams” says LERU.

The European Democracy Shield consultation, open as of today, correctly highlights the role of digital and media literacy and critical thinking in combatting disinformation and foreign interference ec.europa.eu/info/law/bet...

Today’s workshop in Vienna. Enhancing trust in science. How can we best do this?

Delighted to see the #EU #LifeSciences consultation released today, aiming to improve the competitiveness of Eu life sciences. Feedback open til 17th April ec.europa.eu/info/law/bet...