Threads of Resilience: Strengthening Canada’s Capacity for Secure Global Collaboration

This theme traces the evolution of Canada’s research security landscape from early awareness to national coordination. It examines how past events shaped today’s frameworks and institutional cultures. Participants will explore how academic openness and collaboration intersected with national interest safeguards and what lessons and best practices have emerged for managing sensitive research areas and innovation.

Amidst shifting geopolitical alliances, the present theme highlights the operational and strategic realities facing research security practitioners today. Canada’s increased defence investments and renewed emphasis on both developing and protecting sensitive and dual-use research have expanded the scope and complexity of practitioner responsibilities. These changes demand deeper integration across academic, defence and innovation ecosystems, positioning research security professionals as essential contributors to Canada’s broader national security and science policy objectives.

Looking forward, this theme explores the shifting terrain of global research security as technological acceleration, geopolitical tension and defence modernization reshape Canada’s research and innovation priorities. With the Government of Canada committing substantial new investments to defence innovation, cyber resilience and northern security, the research security sector is positioned as a critical enabler of competitiveness and open science.

The University of Manitoba campuses and research spaces are located on original lands of Anishinaabeg, Ininiwak, Anisininewuk, Dakota Oyate, Dene and Inuit, and on the National Homeland of the Red River Métis. 

UM recognizes that the Treaties signed on these lands are a lifelong, enduring relationship, and we are dedicated to upholding their spirit and intent. We acknowledge the harms and mistakes of the past and the present. With this understanding, we commit to supporting Indigenous excellence through active Reconciliation, meaningful change, and the creation of an environment where everyone can thrive. Our collaboration with Indigenous communities is grounded in respect and reciprocity and this guides how we move forward as an institution.  

As a co-host of this conference, Toronto Metropolitan University recognizes that its campus stands on the traditional lands of the Anishinaabe, Haudenosaunee, and Huron-Wendat Peoples, within the area governed by the Dish With One Spoon Treaty. This treaty is an agreement to share and care for the land in peace and friendship. We honour the enduring presence of Indigenous Peoples across these territories and acknowledge our shared responsibility to uphold respectful relationships with the land and its communities.

As we gather to discuss research security, we reflect on how true security begins with trust, reciprocity and accountability - principles long upheld by Indigenous knowledge systems. May this conference strengthen our collective commitment to conduct our work with integrity, respect and a spirit of collaboration that supports reconciliation and shared stewardship.