Indo-Pacific Analysis Brief Vol 55
Research Security in the Indo-Pacific: Why it matters to Australia
August 2025
By Dr Brendan Walker-Munro
Dr Brendan Walker-Munro is a Senior Lecturer in Law with the Faculty of Business, Law & the Arts at Southern Cross University. He is also an Adjunct Expert Associate at the National Security College at the Australian National University. Previously, Brendan was a Senior Research Fellow at the University of Queensland’s Law and the Future of War Research Group and worked in investigation and law enforcement roles across diverse government agencies for over fifteen years.
Key Messages
↗ ‘Research security’ refers to a set of actions taken by governments or other bodies to manage the risks of undesired technology transfers, interference in or misuse of research and threats to research integrity.
↗ In a contested geopolitical environment, safeguarding research institutions from spies, saboteurs and secret agents is of immense importance for Australia and its allies.
↗ Australia has no clear research security policy and has not advocated for this agenda among partners in the wider region.
↗ To close this gap, Australia should develop a national strategy, build capacity among partners to manage potential threats, and position itself as a hub for regional research collaboration.
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Indo-Pacific Analysis Briefs
The Indo-Pacific Analysis Briefs deliver concise, timely insights on critical regional developments. Drawing on perspectives from leading analysts in Asia, Australia and the United States, this series examines emerging issues shaping national and Indo-Pacific policy.