The document provides an update on the COGR (Council on Governmental Relations) Research Security Phase I Survey, which evaluates the costs associated with compliance to recently mandated research security disclosure requirements. Presented by Kristin West and David Kennedy during the October 2022 COGR meeting, the survey focuses on capturing the financial and administrative burdens institutions face, particularly in the initial year of implementation. The analysis distinguishes between institutions of various sizes and tracks expenses related to new hires, opportunity costs from reassigned duties, necessary IT investments, and both one-time and recurring training and process adjustments.
Preliminary findings indicate that the Year One compliance costs are substantial for all research institutions, with smaller entities facing particularly acute challenges. The projected first-year cost ranges from over $100,000 for small institutions (with research expenditures between $15 million and $99 million) to over $400,000 for mid- to large-sized institutions (with expenditures of $100 million or more). Roughly half of these expenses stem from one-time investments, while the remainder represent ongoing annual compliance costs. For the research community at large, the total cost of compliance in the first year could surpass $50 million. The report also highlights concerns about administrative stress and the prospect of disproportionate impact on smaller institutions. Next steps involve finalizing the Phase I report, engaging with federal agencies such as OSTP, and planning for a second phase focused on broader research security programs, including cybersecurity, export control, and additional training requirements.
