Reminder to all researchers: Be aware of high-risk countries and sanctioned institutions
As a researcher, it is more important than ever to exercise caution when entering into research collaborations. Particular attention should be paid to so-called high-risk countries – currently Iran, China, and Russia – as well as to specific sanctioned countries, institutions, and individuals.
Aarhus University is currently placing strong emphasis on research security. With the implementation of the URIS guidelines last autumn, the university’s researchers have been given new tools to protect their research from misuse or becoming a target of espionage.
However, the URIS guidelines are continuously being updated, and all researchers are therefore encouraged to stay informed about the guidelines and regulations available on AU’s webpage on security in international research and innovation collaboration. You can find it here.
On the page, you can view the list of high-risk countries, where collaboration may be possible under certain conditions, and find a link to the EU sanctions list, which outlines countries, institutions, and individuals with whom collaboration is strictly prohibited.
“All researchers at Aarhus University must comply with legally mandated sanctions regulations, and violations can have serious consequences, including fines or imprisonment. It is important to understand that each individual researcher is personally responsible for their collaborators, as the criminal law in this context applies to individuals, not institutions,” says Brian Vinter, Vice-Dean for Research at the Faculty of Technical Sciences and Chair of the URIS Implementation Group at AU. He continues:
“In this regard, I would like to highlight – together with the Research Data Office – three Iranian universities that have long been subject to sanctions and with which we must not collaborate under any circumstances, regardless of our academic discipline.”
The three sanctioned Iranian universities are:
- Sharif University of Technology
- Shahid Beheshti University
- Malek Ashtar University
If you have questions about the URIS guidelines, collaboration with high-risk countries, or sanctioned institutions, you are welcome to contact dualuse@au.dk for assistance.