Summary
Evaluation of the Funding to Build Canada's Research Security Capacity
About the program
The Research Security Centre at Public Safety Canada officially launched in January 2024, and serves as the main point of entry for the research community at Canadian universities, to access Government of Canada services. It works to increase awareness of the security risks associated with research partnerships among academic institutions by being a source of advice and guidance to Canadian universities. Additionally, it coordinates activities related to research security within the federal government and with external stakeholders such as provinces, territories, academia, the private sector, and like-minded countries.
What we examined
The purpose of the evaluation was to examine the performance, including the effectiveness and efficiency, of the Research Security Centre, as well as ongoing resource requirements.
The evaluation covered the period from 2022-2023 to 2023-2024 and was conducted in accordance with the Treasury Board Policy on Results and the Directive on Results.
Evaluation findings
- Implementation of the National Security Guidelines for Research Partnerships is underway and improvements were identified and implemented following the pilot phase
- The Research Security Centre has successfully engaged with Canadian universities, primarily through the Regional Advisor model
- The Research Security Centre has established effective working relationships with other government departments and partners
- The Research Security Centre has contributed to an increase in awareness of research security risks
- The allocated level of resources for the Research Security Centre is currently meeting the needs of the program. As activities reach their full scope, or expand, there may be a need for additional resources
Recommendations
- Explore options to support an increased online presence, in both official languages, and the development of Centre-specific branding to facilitate enhanced awareness of the Centre and increase the impact of the work being done
- Explore options to address administrative barriers to travel to enhance engagement with universities and other partners
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