Researchers applying for funding under the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council’s Alliance Grants program will now have to complete a security risk assessment as part of their application if the work involves a private sector partner, the federal government announced Monday.

In a news release, it said NSERC will conduct the risk assessments on a case-by-case basis in consultation with national security agencies and federal departments. Projects that have identified risks must also include mitigation measures.

“Projects that are deemed high risk, or where the risk cannot be mitigated, will not be funded,” said François-Philippe Champagne, minister of innovation, science and industry.

The risk assessments are part of a package of new national security guidelines for research partnerships the government developed in consultation with the Government of Canada-Universities Working Group to protect Canadian research and intellectual property against foreign interference, espionage and theft.

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