Canada and International Research Partnerships: How Does National Security and Geopolitical Considerations Affect the Ability and Desire to Engage in Cross-border Research Collaborations?

    
This event qualifies for 2 hours of CPD credits.

Description:

National security and geopolitics considerations on international research partnerships – which have received growing attention - are of fundamental importance to and have profound implications on academic institutions, governments, businesses and individuals.

While the release of Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor has shown an ease in tension between Canada and China, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has sparked new international security considerations, and threatens to exacerbate tensions throughout the international community.

In this webinar, we will explore how international research partnerships intersect with domestic and international security concerns, as well as how geopolitics plays a role in the ability and thus desire of individuals and institutions to engage in international research partnerships. We will ask both Canadian and American academics to share their insights and thoughts on what happens when academic interests and security concerns collide.

The panel will explore the ramifications of national security guidelines for research partnerships that Canada and other Western countries have adopted. Supporters of academic freedom are worrying about the effect that these guidelines may have in undermining legitimate partnerships and an open and collaborative research environment. There are growing concerns and calls for developing an effective strategy for securing national research and protecting national security interests. How can Canada create an effective balance between these seemingly competing ideas? Can a balance even be found?

This event is co-hosted by McMillan LLP, the Centre for Asia-Pacific Initiatives, and the Centre for Business Law.

For more information, please contact events@mcmillan.ca

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Webinar panelists and commentators will provide insights on:

• A deep dive into the NSERC application process. Does NSERC’s considerations really address security concerns? What problematic consequences does NSERC create? Are effective alternatives available?
   
• What effect has the cooling of Canada-China relations and Canada’s adoption of National Security Guidelines for Research Partnerships had on domestic academic institutions? Where do we stand now?
   
• What should researchers do when they work with collaborators from countries that are not considered to be Western liberal democracies?
   
• When does international communication and collaboration become insidious? How do we assess an international actor’s motives?
   
• What has happened with Trump’s China Initiative? What approach is the Biden Administration now taking?
   
• Could Canadian academic institutions be on the receiving end of international research restrictions? What are the implications of laws such as section 889 of America’s National Defense Authorization Act?

Panelists:

Margaret Lewis, Professor of Law Seton Hall Law School, Seton Hall University

Jia Wang, Interim Director of the China Institute University of Alberta 

Feridun Hamdullahpur, Former President and Vice-Chancellor University of Waterloo 

Jie Cheng, Associate Professor Peter A. Allard School of Law, University of British Columbia

Pablo Tseng, Partner Intellectual Property, McMillan LLP

Commentator/Closing Remarks: 

Victor V. Ramraj, Professor Director of the Centre for Asia Pacific Initiatives

Opening Remarks: 

Carol Liao, Associate Professor Peter A. Allard School of Law, University of British Columbia

Moderator:

Stephen Wortley, Partner McMillan LLP and Chair Hong Kong Office