What is Research Security?
Research security, as defined by the U.S. federal government, means safeguarding the research enterprise against behaviors that could misappropriate research and development to the detriment of national or economic security, compromise research integrity, or involve foreign government interference (NSPM-33).
At the University of Hawai‘i, research security protects our researchers, students, and institutional resources by safeguarding sensitive data, intellectual property, and federally funded projects.
Why it Matters
The federal government has made research security a priority. Under the National Security Presidential Memorandum-33 (NSPM-33) and the CHIPS and Science Act of 2022, institutions receiving more than $50 million in annual federal research funding are required to establish a Research Security Program.
UH’s program addresses federal core areas and institutional priorities to safeguard research, uphold its integrity, and support safe, responsible international collaboration.
Our Commitment
The University of Hawai‘i is committed to fostering a research environment that is both collaborative and secure. We work closely with our faculty, staff, and students to ensure compliance with federal requirements while supporting the open exchange of ideas that drives discovery.
Through training, guidance, and resources, UH helps researchers understand potential risks, safeguard sensitive information, and navigate international collaborations responsibly.
UH requires all principal investigators, co-investigators, and key personnel involved in extramural projects to complete annual Research Security Training (RST). The training covers awareness of foreign influence, safeguarding sensitive research, and compliance with federal regulations to maintain research integrity.
Cybersecurity
The university’s Information Security Program protects research data and intellectual property through comprehensive data governance, risk assessments, identity and access management, and security awareness training. Researchers should review UH cybersecurity policies and minimum security standards, including data classification and implementation guides.
UH requires all principal investigators, co-investigators, and key personnel involved in extramural projects to complete annual Research Security Training (RST). The training covers awareness of foreign influence, safeguarding sensitive research, and compliance with federal regulations to maintain research integrity.
UH adheres to U.S. export control laws, which regulate the sharing of certain technologies and information. The Office of Export Controls assists researchers in identifying and complying with these regulations to prevent unauthorized exports.
UH complies with federal prohibitions related to foreign talent recruitment programs. Researchers are required to report certain foreign affiliations and activities to ensure compliance with federal regulations.
The UH Conflict of Interest program reviews and manages significant financial interests and other relationships that could bias research or extramural projects. All investigators and key personnel must submit their disclosures through the rCOI system, which is connected to myGRANT.