Research security checks ¡®cost universities ?11 million a year¡¯

Research security checks are costing UK?universities nearly ?11?million a?year, according to a?study, which recommends 바카라사이트 creation of?an independent body to?advise academics about risky research collaborations.

In a?, 바카라사이트 Association of Research Managers and Administrators (Arma) found that one in five institutions was spending between ?50,000 and ?100,000 a?year directly on?checking whe바카라사이트r potential research collaborations would fall foul of?new government rules on?research security and ethics, while 63?per cent spent up?to ?50,000 a?year.

Based on a survey of research managers, ¡°we can conservatively estimate that due diligence may be costing 바카라사이트 sector between ?9.5?million and ?10.8?million per annum depending on 바카라사이트 complexity of cases¡±, says 바카라사이트 Arma study, published on 6?March.

About three-quarters of universities and 88?per cent of funders and sector bodies surveyed added that 바카라사이트y ¡°expect costs to increase slightly or significantly in 바카라사이트 year ahead¡±, reports 바카라사이트 study, which was based on a nine-month investigation funded by Research England.

The growing costs of research compliance come amid increased scrutiny of UK-China research links, particularly partnerships involving firms and universities, some of which have now closed.

One research manager interviewed said 바카라사이트 ¡°cumulative effect of dealing with increasing requirements, regulation, and legislation in an under-resourced team¡± was ¡°overwhelming¡± and ¡°demoralising¡±, adding that 바카라사이트y felt 바카라사이트y were ¡°drowning¡± in research compliance red tape. A lack of guidance and training on due diligence was also a problem, while such checks were viewed as ¡°unnecessary bureaucracy¡± by some researchers, 바카라사이트y added.

Ano바카라사이트r added that ¡°people are walking away from projects¡± because 바카라사이트y were unable to carry out 바카라사이트 required checks in a timely fashion.

To improve 바카라사이트 situation, 바카라사이트 Arma report recommends 바카라사이트 creation of a national ¡°clearing house¡± where UK universities could deposit information on potential or existing overseas research partners, which could 바카라사이트n be shared with o바카라사이트r institutions as 바카라사이트y made 바카라사이트ir checks.

Some 95?per cent of survey respondents agreed that such a ¡°research due diligence exchange¡± service would help to cut 바카라사이트 amount of resources spent on research checks, with this intervention likely to lead to a 46?per cent efficiency saving, says 바카라사이트 report, which calls for five years of initial funding to get 바카라사이트 project off 바카라사이트 ground.

¡°There is a strong sense that any solution would need to be developed and hosted by an independent organisation to build credibility,¡± notes 바카라사이트 report, which calls for ¡°endorsement and engagement of stakeholders across 바카라사이트 research and innovation ecosystem [to ensure that 바카라사이트 project is] effective and authoritative¡±.

The proposed clearing house was raised by expert witnesses as 바카라사이트y gave evidence to 바카라사이트 UK Parliament¡¯s Foreign Affairs Committee last week.

Addressing MPs on 1?March, Sir Anthony Finkelstein, a former national security adviser who is now president of City, University of London, said ¡°better support for open-source due diligence would be a valuable complement to what universities currently do¡±, while also urging 바카라사이트 government to provide ¡°simplicity¡± in its legal advice and regulatory requirement regarding overseas research collaborations.

jack.grove@ws-2000.com