PRESS RELEASE 03/03/2023
ARMA PUBLISHES COMPLEX COLLABORATIONS – EFFICIENCY, EQUITY, QUALITY AND SECURITY IN INTERNATIONAL RESEARCH REPORT
In its report Complex Collaborations – Efficiency, Equity, Quality and Security in International Research, published today, ARMA found that whilst the majority of research organisations have made progress in responding to the Trusted Research and security agenda, there are unique challenges relating to the complexity and cross-cutting nature of the legislation which make this different to other forms of due diligence. The project also identified a need for immediate action that offers practical solutions to stakeholders at every level, in addition to longer term responses and cultural change.
The 9-month project, which was awarded £99k from the Research England emerging priorities fund in May 2022, was tasked with broadening the focus of ARMAs previous report on due diligence (published in April 2021) with a new emphasis on Trusted Research and security, including export control and the National Security and Investment Act 2021.
The scope of the project was to establish the current challenges facing the sector and consider whether a sector-led system and service, as recommended in the previous report, remained a valid part of the solution to providing assurance of risk in international research collaborations.
The report found that ‘over 90% of respondents felt a sector-led system and service would have a positive effect’ and recommends the creation of an independent Research Collaboration Diligence Exchange and Research Collaboration Diligence System to address the unmet need within the sector and drive both operational and cultural change around due diligence, trusted research and security.
FINDINGS
“There are unique characteristics around how due diligence for trusted research and security issues need to be conducted that make it more resource intensive than other forms of due diligence.”
The project found that whilst 84% of research organisations had begun to adapt their processes in response to Trusted Research, only 33% believed they had completed their adjustments. However, participants described an environment defined by increased complexity and the need for specialist expertise, additional resource and cross-departmental responses that left many feeling overwhelmed.
“The research management community is full of problem solvers and our engagement surfaced a range of potential solutions and an enthusiasm for collaborative efforts to drive better practice.”
Despite the concern, the project found examples of innovation, collaboration and best practice and a belief that better ways of working were achievable with a collective and decisive action across stakeholder groups. The report describes a maturity curve against which organisations are making progress. While no organisation had yet achieved cultural change in this area, several examples of strong progress emerged.
COLLABORATIVE SOLUTIONS
“There is significant appetite for more collaborative working and significant opportunity to improve practice across the sector with coordinated action.”
Whilst many ideas and suggestions related to longer-term solutions that would require planning and funding, the report recommends a series of Quick Wins that could be immediately actioned and provide swift support to those implementing changes through coordination and collaboration.
The Quick Wins include actions for Research Organisations, Research Funders, Government and Regulatory Bodies and ARMA itself. Recommendations include continued cross-sector engagement; best practice exchange events; an updated ARMA due diligence questionnaire; a new checklist for internal, desk-based research for trusted research and security; and the creation of a tool kit and resource bank.
“The overwhelming need, appetite, and support for change across the sector mean that inaction is not an option.”
An overwhelming majority believe that a sector-led system and service would have a positive impact in delivering greater efficiency, equity, quality and security for due diligence across the sector.
The report therefore recommends the creation of a Research Collaboration Diligence Exchange and System to address the unmet need within the sector. The Exchange should bring together existing tools, guidance, and training, and co-create and maintain further tools and training, with the sector, for use by the sector. As it grows, the Exchange should be spun out into an independent legal entity with greater capacity to drive operational and cultural change.
A central function of the Exchange would be to host a Research Collaboration Diligence System which should be developed using a modular approach with three pieces of core functionality:
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The ability to host and share core due diligence questionnaire data points completed by partners.
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The ability to host data relating to internal due diligence and desk-based research and decision-making related to individual projects.
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The ability to draw data from open access and commercial governance, compliance, and risk software systems.
The report concludes that the initial development of the Exchange and System should be grant funded, potentially by a consortium of UK research funders and/or government departments.
Jennifer Johnson, Chair of ARMA and Director of Research & Innovation Services at Northumbria University said:
This project set out with the aim of understanding the current challenges facing the sector in relation to due diligence and security and to assess whether a national system and service for due diligence remained part of the solution. Our report demonstrates that the sector is facing a complex legislative landscape and unique challenges in this space and whilst I am left in no doubt that as a sector, we can do better, there is an overwhelming need for the creation of national provision and capacity to support due diligence and security in international research.
Professor Dame Jessica Corner, Executive Chair at Research England said:
We are grateful to ARMA for their practical and thoughtful report. Continued dialogue across sectors, with government, in the UK, and internationally is critical to successful implementation in delivering Trusted Research. We must continue to share experiences and best practices; to identify what is working, and where greater attention might be needed. ARMA has prompted a significant discussion that will promote engagement at all levels with this important agenda.
