National Security Guidelines for Research Partnerships | Research

To help protect Canadian research and intellectual property against foreign influence, espionage and theft, the Government of Canada introduced the National Security Guidelines for Research Partnerships. These have the goal of ensuring that the Canadian research ecosystem is “as open as possible and as secure as necessary.” The Guidelines integrate national security considerations into the development, evaluation and federal funding of research partnerships.  

The National Security Guidelines for Research Partnerships – Risk Assessment Form is required for the following grants that involve a private-sector partner:

Tri-agency Funding - see Tri-agency guidance on the NSGRP RAF
- NSERC Alliance
- CIHR Project Grant Program
- SSHRC CBRF
- SSHRC Partnerships Grants (Stage 2)
- SSHRC Partnership Development Grants
- SSHRC Partnership Engage Grants (effective December 2025)
CFI – see CFI Research Security

Researchers applying to these programs must complete a National Security Guidelines for Research Partnerships’ Risk Assessment Form. This completed form is a component of the application package.

Private sector partners include Canadian and international partners and not-for-profit organizations whose members are from the private sector, such as producer groups and industrial associations.

The Office of Research is fully committed to assisting researchers in completing their Risk Assessment Forms. This will take the shape of extensive engagement to assess potential risk and, if necessary, to create robust risk mitigation plans. You can read more about this under “Process to complete the Risk Assessment Form.”

National Security Guidelines - Sensitive Research Areas

According to the Government of Canada, sensitive research areas of interest to foreign governments and militaries may include:

Advanced Digital Infrastructure Technology

Advanced communications technology
Advanced computing technology
Cryptography
Cyber security technology
Data storage technology
Distributed ledger technology
Microelectronics
Next-generation network technology

Advanced Energy Technology

Advanced energy storage technology
Advanced nuclear generation technology
Wireless power transfer technology

Advanced Materials and Manufacturing

Advanced Materials

Augmented conventional materials
Auxetic materials
High-entropy materials
Metamaterials
Multifunctional/smart materials
Nanomaterials
Powder materials for additive manufacturing
Superconducting materials
Two-dimensional (2D) materials

Advanced Manufacturing

Additive manufacturing (3D printing)
Advanced semiconductor manufacturing
Critical materials manufacturing
Four-dimensional (4D) printing
Nano-manufacturing
Two-dimensional (2D) materials manufacturing

Advanced Sensing and Surveillance

Advanced biometric recognition technologies
Advanced radar technologies
Atomic interferometer sensors
Cross-cueing sensors
Electric field sensors
Imaging and optical devices and sensors
Magnetic field sensors (or magnetometers)
Micro (or nano) electro-mechanical systems (M/NEMS)
Position, navigation and timing (PNT) technology
Side scan sonar
Synthetic aperture sonar (SAS)
Underwater (wireless) sensor network

Advanced Weapons

Aerospace, Space and Satellite Technology

Advanced wind tunnels
On-orbit servicing, assembly and manufacturing systems
Payloads
Propulsion technologies
Satellites
Space-based positioning, navigation and timing technology
Space stations
Zero-emission/fuel aircraft

Artificial Intelligence and Big Data Technology

AI chipsets
Computer vision
Data science and big data technology
Digital twin technology
Machine learning (ML)
Natural language processing

Human-Machine Integration

Brain-computer interfaces
Exoskeletons
Neuroprosthetic/cybernetic devices
Virtual/augmented/mixed reality
Wearable neurotechnology

Life Science Technology

Biotechology

Biomanufacturing
Genomic sequencing and genetic engineering
Proteomics
Synthetic biology

Medical and Healthcare Technology

Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) medical countermeasures
Gene therapy
Nanomedicine
Tissue engineering and regenerative medicine

Quantum Science and Technology

Quantum communications
Quantum computing
Quantum materials
Quantum sensing
Quantum software

Robotics and Autonomous Systems

Molecular (or nano) robotics
(Semi-)autonomous/uncrewed aerial/ground/marine vehicles
Service robots
Space robotics

Research partnerships focused on critical infrastructure. Critical infrastructure refers to processes, systems, facilities, technologies, networks, assets and services essential to the health, safety, security or economic well-being of Canadians and the effective functioning of government. For more information on Canada’s critical infrastructure, see National Infrastructure and Action Plan for Critical Infrastructure

Research partnerships involving potential access to sensitive personal data that could be leveraged to harm Canadian national security through its exploitation, including, but not limited to:

personally identifiable health or genetic (e.g., health conditions or genetic test results);
biometric (e.g., fingerprints);
financial (e.g., confidential account information, including expenditures and debt);
communications (e.g., private communications);
geolocation; or,
personal data concerning government officials; including members of the military or intelligence community.

National Security Guidelines FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ): National Security Guidelines for Research Partnerships

Process to complete the Risk Assessment Form

The following process outlines how the Office of Research can support you with the completion of the Risk Assessment Form:

Once an applicant determines they would like to submit a grant covered by the National Security Guidelines for Research Partnerships process, they should connect with the relevant manager in the Office of Research. For NSERC Alliance, this would be the NSERC Grants and Contracts Manager – Sarah Severino.

Once a draft grant application is prepared, the Grants and Contracts Manager will notify the Safeguarding Research Team, on behalf of the applicant, to initiate a research security risk review. Note that there is no need for the applicant to complete or submit the Risk Assessment Questionnaire at this point.

A member of the Safeguarding Research Team will reach out to the applicant to schedule a 30-minute meeting between the applicant and members of the Safeguarding Research Team. The applicant will be asked to provide a brief description of the proposed research and answer any questions the team may have. Each section of the Risk Assessment form will be reviewed with the applicant.

Through active engagement with the applicant, the Safeguarding Research Team will determine how the form will be completed. If there are any “yes” or “unsure” responses given on the form, the Safeguarding Research Team will complete the “Potential Risk Identified” and “Risk Mitigation” sections of the form on behalf of the applicant.

Once the Risk Assessment form is completed by the Safeguarding Research Team, a draft will be circulated to the applicant for review and comment.

After the form has been finalized and approved by the Safeguarding Research team, the applicant will attach the approved Risk Assessment form to their grant application.

There are resources to support completion of the Risk Assessment Form, including Cognit. The Office of Research can provide information on a variety of other resources.

National Security Guidelines Best Practices in Risk Assessment and Risk Mitigation

These best practices come from National Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) as feedback to help guide researchers and universities.

Best Practices

Researchers and institutions should use the tools and resources on the Safeguarding Your Research portal for information on how to identify and mitigate risks to security in research partnerships.

Have open discussions with your partner organization(s) to identify potential or perceived risks.
Conduct open source intelligence due diligence to identify any potential or perceived risks related to your partner organization(s).

When completing the risk assessment form:

Ensure to read the form in its entirety and consult any external resources mentioned in the form to ensure your responses are as accurate as possible.
Use the tools and resources on the Safeguarding Your Research portal for information on how to identify and mitigate risks to national security in research partnerships.
Use your best judgement and show due diligence when developing a mitigation plan that addresses the potential risks you have identified. Examples of specific mitigation measures to include in your plan are included in the form.
All projects are unique and thus should be addressed through tailored risk mitigation measures.

Government Sources Referenced in the Risk Assessment Form

Overview of the National Security Guidelines for Research Partnerships – Appendix A (sensitive research areas)

Guide to Canada’s Export Control List

Defence Production Act (Controlled Goods List)

The Export and Brokering Controls Handbook

Critical Minerals List

National Strategy for Critical Infrastructure and Action Plan for Critical Infrastructure

Export and Import Permits Act