Safeguarding Science
Training Modules
Canada is recognized for its, bold ideas, and scientific advancements. Through both the commitment of the domestic research community and international collaboration, Canada is a world leader in research and contributes directly to world-class innovation.
While the principles of freedom, openness, and transparency ensure the integrity of research at Canadian institutions, these standards must be balanced with national security. Across many academic areas, Canadian research is targeted by malicious actors who want to covertly gain strategic advantages through unwanted knowledge transfer. Some foreign governments may even try to advance their economic, strategic, geopolitical, or military objectives by infiltrating or co-opting Canadian research and development processes.
Research security focuses on protecting knowledge and outcomes from research activities and plays a critical role in preventing risks such as theft, interference, and unauthorized knowledge transfer. Regardless of the research subject, these risks can seriously damage an institution's reputation, compromise its integrity, and reduce opportunities for publication, patents, and the retention of expertise. Research security risks can also often have long-lasting and significant national security implications, which can compromise a country's integrity and the safety and security of citizens both home and abroad. The Government of Canada is committed to preserving academic freedom while equipping the research community with the tools and knowledge needed to navigate emerging technologies and the evolving global geopolitical and economic landscape.
What do the training modules cover
Alongside other forms of engagement, Public Safety Canada's Research Security Centre has actively been raising research security awareness through Safeguarding Science training modules. The Centre has partnered with other federal departments to create these training modules and ensure expertise in content, delivery, and focus. The modules are intended to enhance the research communities understanding of research security by introducing key concepts such as dual-use technologies, vulnerabilities, exploitation practices, threat vectors, relevant laws and regulations, and other associated risks. Topics of discussion focus on, but are not limited to, best practices in maintaining security-conscious research organization, geopolitical awareness, and research security guidance and tools to help recognize and address risk to Canadian research, researchers, and institutions.
Who should attend
The Safeguarding Science training modules are intended for all – regardless of academic domain. This includes researchers, research staff (including technicians, postdoctoral fellows, and students), research security professionals, research administrators, information technology and information management staff, security personnel, biosafety and radiological safety officers, human resources personnel, supply chain personnel, and senior management.
Training Module Descriptions
Module 1
Safeguarding Science: Raising Awareness of Security Risks and Mitigation Tools in the Research Ecosystem | Public Safety Canada
This module raises awareness within Canada's scientific and academic communities about research security-related issues. It explains the potential for misuse of sensitive research, technology, and materials, along with possible risk indicators and mitigation tools to protect Canadian research assets. As a result of the ever-changing research and national security environment, this module is updated annually to ensure the inclusion of up-to-date and relevant information.
This module is offered virtually and in-person. It is recommended as an introduction to the topic of research security. Virtual French sessions of Module 1 are offered and registration can be accessed from the French Safeguarding Science page. Additional modules offering a deeper dive into research security-related topics are also available and detailed below.
Module 1 - Learning Objectives
- Learn guidance and tools to strengthen the security posture at research institutions
- Consider the ways in which research security intersects with research activities
- Understand best practices to identify and mitigate threats to research security
- Pursue and maintain safe research partnerships
- Maintain institutional reputation as a safe research organization
- Consider dual-use implications of research
- Protect valuable research, data, or potentially patentable property
Scenario-Based Exercises (in-person only)
The Research Security Centre offers scenario-based exercises to compliment in-person Safeguarding Science – Module 1. Participants work in small groups to identify risks and propose mitigation strategies. This hands-on activity reinforces key concepts from the module and encourages practical application to real-world research security challenges. Please contact your regional advisor for more information.
Additional Modules (virtual only)
French virtual sessions are available, and registration can be accessed from the French Safeguarding Science page.
Module 2
Dual-Use Technologies: Know Your Research – Know your Partners – Assess the Risk | Public Safety Canada
This module elaborates on dual-use technologies and research, with specific examples. These examples highlight the complex nature of dual-use technologies and ways to recognize their sensitivities. Whether working in STEM, social sciences, or humanities, the outcome of the module will enhance understanding of the dual-use nature of any research and provide frontline researchers and institutions with tools to perform their due diligence and appropriately evaluate risks.
Module 2 - Learning Objectives
- Raise awareness of the risks arising from research in Sensitive Technology Research Areas and dual use technologies
- Illustrate, through examples, the dual use nature of specific research areas across multiple domains
- Create awareness, challenge, and enable participants to better recognize how their work may be sensitive or dual use
- Highlight the importance of due diligence and a researcher's responsibility to safeguard the intangible information critical to successful research
- Balance and reinforce the importance of collaboration in open science
Module 3
Demystifying the International Student Immigration Process | Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada
This module provides insight on the immigration process for international students and explains how prospective applicants are security screened for admissibility. The module provides an overview of the immigration forms, supporting documents and requirements necessary to obtain a study permit. The roles and responsibilities of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) and its security screening partners are detailed. Case studies are included within the presentation to help demonstrate the process.
Module 3 - Learning Objectives
- Learn about the Canadian process of obtaining a study permit for international students
- Review of a recent case study
Module 4
Know Before You Export: Canada's Export and Brokering Controls | Global Affairs Canada
This module aims to increase knowledge about Canada's export controls regime, including a list and reasoning of what is controlled. This module explains how research institutions and academia may be subject to export controls, demonstrates how to apply for an export permit, and provides a list of resources and contacts for reference.
Module 4 - Learning Objectives
- Increase knowledge about Canada's export controls regime
- Understand how research institutions and academia may be subject to export controls
Module 5
Sanctions 101 | Global Affairs Canada
This module provides an overview of Canada's current sanctions measures, best practices on how to conduct due diligence to verify sanctions, and information on how to apply for a permit should one be required. This module details how sanctions have implications for Canadian educational institutions, how they can affect research collaborations and funding opportunities, and how researchers and other academic personnel engage with international partners and entities in countries subject to Canadian sanctions.
Module 5 - Learning Objectives
- Gain awareness of Canadian sanctions, exceptions, and permits
- Learn about compliance and enforcement
Module 5 – Sanctions 101 (English) – February 5, 2026 1:00pm - 2:00pm (EST)
Module 6
Travelling Safely: Protecting Your Research While Travelling Abroad | Public Safety Canada
This module provides a global overview of the threat environment when travelling. It provides a summary of techniques used by foreign governments to gain advantage over and acquisition of research, and provides best practices to follow before, during, and after travel.
Module 6 - Learning Objectives
- Raise awareness of travel risks
- Enable researchers to make risk-informed decisions to protect themselves and their research
Module 7
Conducting Open-Source Due-Diligence | Public Safety Canada
This module provides an overview of open-source due-diligence techniques for researchers to use when evaluating the risks related to potential partners. The outcome of this module will enhance researchers' ability to gather, analyze, and interpret, relevant information using open-source methods to ensure research security and integrity.
Module 7 - Learning Objectives
- Find relevant information using open source methods
- Frame open source information in a manner that allows researchers to analyze information and make security conscious decisions
- Protect researchers during all stages of research
Module 7 – Conducting Open-Source Due-Diligence (English) – February 19, 2026 1:00pm - 2:00pm (EST)
Module 8
Beyond the Lab: The Strategic Relevance of Social Sciences and Humanities in Research Security | Public Safety Canada
This module highlights the strategic role of social sciences and humanities in analyzing and managing complex security challenges. Participants will explore how foreign interference, surveillance, and manipulation strategies can compromise the integrity of Canada's research ecosystem and directly affect researchers. Through case studies and concrete examples, the module illustrates the synergies between STEM and social sciences, dual-use research concerns, and vulnerabilities specific to academic environments.
Module 8 - Learning Objectives
- Increase awareness and provide practical tools to help identify and address research-related risks in the context of social sciences research
- Support informed decision-making in the assessment of social sciences and humanities grant applications through a research security lens.
Date TBD
Contact us
For more information about the modules or to arrange a session for your institution, please contact:
The Research Security Centre
National and Cyber Security Branch
Public Safety Canada
researchsecurity-securiteenrecherche@ps-sp.gc.ca
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