Research Security & Risk Management

Challenges to U.S. Innovation

U.S. innovation and R&D—the lifeblood of our economic prosperity, competitiveness, and national security—is actively threatened by adversarial nation-states on an unprecedented scale. Government and corporate-sponsored research in academia and R&D within start-ups and technology companies are largely unregulated and unprotected, leaving our innovation ecosystem vulnerable to theft and diversion by countries that seek to displace U.S. technological and military leadership.

• The U.S. government often steps in too late, usually after criminal activity or other regulatory violations have already occurred. These violations may result in significant criminal penalties, large civil fines, or debarment for institutions and individuals.

• Academia, start-ups, and technology firms typically do not have the tools or knowhow to adequately defend themselves against the resources of foreign governments that target their innovations or intellectual capital and property.

• The U.S. government lacks the expertise, mission priorities, or agility to adequately protect R&D and innovation at the speed of business, especially within unclassified R&D environments.