The JASON report on "Safeguarding the Research Enterprise" addresses the complex challenges of maintaining U.S. national security while preserving the openness and advancement of fundamental research, particularly as global scientific competition intensifies and technologies with potential military applications proliferate. Commissioned by the National Science Foundation (NSF), the report reviews historical precedents, evolving threats—especially those posed by China’s Military-Civil Fusion policies—and recent legislative mandates such as the CHIPS and Science Act, to inform a balanced approach to research security. Emphasis is placed on distinguishing between fundamental (open) research and research requiring stringent controls, warning that excessive restrictions on fundamental research may inadvertently undercut U.S. innovation, global scientific leadership, and the development of talent critical to national security.
The report recommends a dynamic, project-level assessment to identify sensitive research rather than broad and static lists, using factors such as technology readiness, predictability of national security impacts, and the context of international competition. Mitigations—proportionate to the risk—should be prioritized over formal controls, preserving the Fundamental Research Exclusion wherever feasible. The identification of sensitivities should occur early in the grant proposal process by principal investigators and program officers, with further expert review for potentially sensitive projects. The report underscores the necessity for increased dialogue and collaboration both among funding agencies (such as DOE, NIH, DOD) and with universities, as well as the cultivation of a robust culture of research security awareness. Overall, the report advocates a cautious, flexible approach to research security that seeks to protect U.S. interests without stifling the essential openness and collaborative spirit that underpins scientific and economic progress.
