Canadian researchers who intend to apply for European Union (EU) funding opportunities and/or who have an EU-based research partner need to be aware that there are research security measures specific to Union-wide funding programs, as well as requirements unique to different member states.
Researchers are encouraged to consult with their EU partners to ensure compliance with any specific EU-wide or member state requirements.
Below is a non-exhaustive list of resources for the more common University of Toronto research partners with robust national research security standards. If you require assistance with research security requirements for an EU process or jurisdiction not identified below, please contact the Research Security Team via the VPRI Contact at the bottom of this page.
Horizon Europe, which runs from 2021 through 2027, is the EU’s key funding programme for research and innovation.
Under HE Pillar I, Canadian researchers can apply for Marie Skłodowska-Curie Fellowships or a Mitacs Globalink Fellowship to work in European research groups or for European Research Council grants to establish a research group in Europe.
As of 2024, Canada is an associated member of HE, allowing Canadian researchers to receive funding under Pillar II. As such, Canadian researchers will have a free choice of topics, open access to funding, and the chance to lead projects.
Research security requirements for HE include the following.
- A focus on the protection of classified information and/or the potential need to classify research results
- Security assessments that review the potential for activities, methods, technologies, or knowledge to be misused for malevolent purposes and any other security concerns, including national security restrictions, not captured in other categories
During the proposal preparation stage, researcher applicants are required to complete a security self-assessment, which is included as part of the grant application. Depending on the nature of the specific funding opportunity or any concerns identified during the review of the self-assessments, an additional security review may be required. Security checks can also be conducted during or after the life of a project.
For resources on research security requirements for Horizon Europe, please consult the following resources.
- Horizon Europe: Applicant Resources (Government of Canada)
- Horizon Europe: Contact (Government of Canada)
- Horizon Europe Programme Guide (pp.28-31) (European Commission)
- Classification of information in Horizon Europe projects (European Commission)
- Programme Security Instruction Concerning Horizon European Programme (European Commission)
- How to handle security-sensitive projects (European Commission)
- Guidance note — Potential misuse of research (European Commission)
For questions regarding partner due diligence or research security, please contact the Research Security Team via the VPRI Contact at the bottom of this page.
French research security is federally governed by the Protection of Scientific and Technical Potential (PPST) regulation, which provides a strong legal protection based on the identification of strategic knowledge and know-how. Please note this website is only available in French so text may require translation through the browser.
In Germany, research security requirements are overseen by the Joint Committee on the Handling of Security-Relevant Research. The Committee acts as a point of contact for Committees for Ethics in Security-Relevant Research (KEFs – German acronym), which have been established at many German academic and research institutions to provide support to researchers.
The German Academic Exchange Service has also established the Competence Center for International Scientific Cooperation (KIWi), which provides supports Germany universities in international collaborations by providing advice on issues such as risk and security management. Please note this website is only available in German so text may require translation through the browser.
Dutch research security measures are guided by the central government’s National Contact Point for Knowledge Security. The Knowledge Security portal provides information on knowledge security guidelines, international partnerships, tools and frameworks, and other resources for researchers and institutions.
- Safeguarding Science (EU)
- Austria - Austrian Security Research Programme KIRAS
- Belgium – Knowledge Security
- Denmark – Knowledge Security
