Science ministry updates research-security rules for sensitive projects

The science ministry said national research and development projects now face revised security rules that add a mid-level sensitive classification.

The ministry said the partial revision was made to reorganize the research-security system after amendments to the National Research and Development Innovation Act and its enforcement decree. The act was promulgated Feb. 19 and the decree Aug. 18; both took effect Aug. 20.

Projects outside the security-project category can be classified as sensitive when assigned a mid-level security grade.

Research institutions must obtain prior approval before transferring ownership of research outcomes from security projects. The ministry added application forms for transfer approval and for designation as a dedicated research-security institution.

The ministry also updated security-grade fields and instructions in forms for research plans, project agreements, annual and stage reports, final reports and reports on the use of research outcomes. The instructions direct users to mark sensitive projects as "sensitive" where they fall under Article 21(5) of the law.

Research institutions must record foreign support in an integrated information system and promptly report changes to the head of the relevant central administrative agency. They may report the changes by entering them through the system.