The Biology Centre CAS is an open research institution engaged in international cooperation. Openness, knowledge sharing and collaboration with partners from around the world are fundamental components of high-quality research.
Institutional resilience is not intended to restrict this openness. Its purpose is to help protect our employees, research, research results, data, know-how, biological material, intellectual property, infrastructure and the reputation of the Biology Centre (BC).
Put simply, it is about being able to recognise situations that may pose a risk and knowing when and whom to contact at BC.
Research is becoming increasingly international, digital and interconnected. Alongside new opportunities, this also creates new risks – for example, unauthorised access to research results and data, misuse of know-how or technologies, cyber incidents, potentially risky collaborations, breaches of contractual obligations, international sanctions or export control rules.
Moreover, from 1 January 2027, the new Act No. 328/2025 Coll., on Research, Development, Innovation and Knowledge Transfer, requires recipients of institutional funding to systematically ensure institutional resilience and research security.
Similar systems are already being introduced by Czech universities and research organisations, while research security is also one of the priorities of the European Research Area.
The aim of BC is not to create additional administrative burdens for researchers. Expert assessment of risks, contracts, partners or incidents is the responsibility of the relevant support departments. What we expect from researchers is primarily basic awareness and timely consultation whenever they encounter a situation that is out of the ordinary.
Publishing and sharing research results is a natural part of scientific work. However, before disclosing unpublished results or providing them to an external party, it is advisable to consider whether they contain:
If a result may have application or commercial potential, please contact the BC Technology Transfer Office before its disclosure.
Store and share research data, documents and non-public information using tools and services approved by BC.
Follow the “Security Incident Response Directive” and, in particular, avoid:
Do not enter unpublished results, personal data, contracts, confidential information or know-how into services where such use has not been approved.
International cooperation is a fundamental part of BC's activities, and the vast majority of international collaborations do not present any problems.
In some cases, however, it is advisable to verify in advance:
Checking a partner is not the responsibility of an individual researcher. If you have any doubts, please contact the relevant BC departments (Technology Transfer Office and Project Office), and we will arrange any further assessment.
Before transferring biological material, samples, unique methodologies, software, technologies or other research assets outside BC, it is advisable to verify the conditions governing their use and further transfer.
Depending on the specific situation, an MTA, NDA or another agreement may be required.
Certain technologies may also be subject to dual-use or export control regulations.
Conferences, international travel and professional visits are a normal part of scientific work.
Pay particular attention to what non-public information you share and with whom. This may concern, for example:
The same principle applies when external visitors enter laboratories and other BC facilities.
Be particularly alert if someone:
Such a situation does not automatically mean that a security incident is taking place. However, it is a good reason to seek advice.
Just three simple steps:
Before sharing non-public information, results, data or materials, briefly ask yourself:
Is it appropriate for me to share this with this particular recipient?
Is the information public? Am I authorised to share it? Is it subject to a contract, confidentiality obligation, intellectual property protection or any other restriction?
If you are unsure, you do not have to assess the situation on your own.
Seeking advice early is usually simple. Resolving a problem afterwards can be considerably more complicated.
Please contact us, for example, if:
You do not need to have evidence that there is a problem. Even a concern or uncertainty is sufficient reason to seek advice.
Assistance with assessing a situation, potentially risky collaboration or partner, and referral to the appropriate specialist department.
Research results, know-how, intellectual property, patents, licences, commercialisation, NDAs, MTAs and cooperation with companies.
Cybersecurity, devices, access rights, accounts, information systems and security incidents.
Contracts, confidentiality, legal terms of cooperation, sanctions and regulatory matters.
Project conditions, international consortia and funding provider requirements.
If you are unsure which department to contact, you do not need to find the right one yourself – contact us at iod@bc.cas.cz, and we will forward your enquiry to the appropriate department.
BC is preparing a short e-learning course entitled Institutional Resilience and Research Security.
Its purpose is not to turn researchers into security or legal specialists. Through short practical scenarios, it will explain:
The e-learning course will be intended for current employees and will subsequently also be incorporated into the onboarding process for new BC employees.
Financial Analytical Office – International Sanctions
https://www.fau.gov.cz/cs/rozcestnik/mezinarodni-sankce
EU Sanctions Map
https://www.sanctionsmap.eu/
USA OFAC – Office of Foreign Assets Control
https://ofac.treasury.gov/sanctions-programs-and-country-information
USA BIS – Bureau of Industry and Security
https://www.bis.gov
CALTECH – Country Lists and Programs
https://researchpolicy.caltech.edu/research-security/export-compliance/sanctions_embargoes#bis-d98a4601-tab
Ministry of Industry and Trade – Dual-Use Items and Export Control
https://mpo.gov.cz/cz/zahranicni-obchod/licencni-sprava/mezinarodni-kontrolni-rezimy-
zbozi-dvojiho-pouziti/
Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Czech National Sanctions List
https://mzv.gov.cz/jnp/cz/zahranicni_vztahy/sankcni_politika/sankcni_seznam_cr/vnitrostatni_
sankcni_seznam.html
Sanctions List of Universities (NDAA Section 1286 List – Seven Sons), U.S. Department of Defense
https://www.cto.mil/fy25-ndaa-section-1286-list
National Cyber and Information Security Agency (NÚKIB)
https://nukib.gov.cz/
European Commission – Research Security
https://research-and-innovation.ec.europa.eu/strategy/strategy-research-and-innovation/europe-world/international-cooperation/strategic-autonomy-and-european-economic-and-research-security_en
Trusted Research – Practical Guidance for Academia
https://www.npsa.gov.uk/specialised-guidance/trusted-research
