Skip to main content University of Leeds homepage

Trusted Research

At the University of Leeds, we are committed to fostering a vibrant, open, and globally engaged research environment.

As part of this commitment, we fully endorse the principles of Trusted Research, a national initiative designed to safeguard the integrity, security, and ethical standards of international research collaborations.

What Trusted Research is

Trusted Research is a framework developed by the UK government and the research and innovation sector to help universities and researchers:

  • identify and manage potential risks in international research partnerships
  • protect intellectual property, sensitive data, and personal information
  • ensure research is conducted safely, securely, and transparently, in line with UK values and legal obligations
  • safeguard against hostile interference, particularly in areas of cutting-edge science and technology that may have dual-use or military applications.

This guidance is especially relevant for research in science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) fields, where the risk of exploitation – whether through cyber intrusion, data theft, or misuse of research outcomes – is heightened.

What Trusted Research is not

Trusted Research is not about limiting academic freedom or discouraging international collaboration. It is about enabling responsible, secure, and ethical partnerships that uphold the UK’s reputation for research excellence. It is not a barrier to innovation, but a safeguard to ensure that innovation is not misused.

It is also not a one-size-fits-all checklist. Trusted Research encourages researchers to reflect critically on their work, collaborators, and funders, and to seek advice when needed.

Our commitment

We recognise that international collaboration is essential to solving global challenges. At the same time, we acknowledge that some partnerships may carry risks, particularly when working with institutions in countries whose legal, ethical, or democratic standards differ from our own.

To support our research community, we provide:

  • dedicated guidance and training through our Trusted Research team
  • access to national expertise, including the National Protective Security Authority (NPSA), the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), and the Research Collaboration Advice Team (RCAT)
  • case-by-case support to help researchers assess and manage risks in a proportionate and informed way.

We encourage all staff to engage with Trusted Research principles and to reach out early when planning international collaborations. Together, we can ensure that our research remains open, impactful and secure.

For more information or support, please email the Trusted Research team: trustedresearch@leeds.ac.uk.