Research and Innovation Series (RIS) – Part XV: Building a Culture of Trust: Academic Ethics and Research Security in Lithuania

What makes research truly secure? Beyond policies and procedures, effective research security depends on academic integrity, trust and a culture in which researchers can raise concerns and receive fair, informed support. 

Join the Stockholm Center for Research and Innovation Security (SCRIS) at the Institute for Security and Development Policy (ISDP) for the next webinar in our Research and Innovation Security (RIS) series, focusing on research and innovation security in Lithuania. 

Our guest speaker, Reda Cimmperman, the Ombudsperson for Academic Ethics and Procedures of Lithuania (Office), will explore why academic ethics is central to research security. Drawing on the work of her Office, including the Responsible Research Barometer, institutional monitoring and guidance on academic ethics, ethical review and artificial intelligence, she will discuss how trust, transparency and accountability influence the decisions made by researchers and institutions. 

The webinar will explore how academic ethics and research security go hand in hand, highlighting how institutions can build resilience while safeguarding academic freedom. It will address how to identify risks in research activities and partnerships, protect sensitive knowledge and data, and make informed, proportionate decisions that strengthen research security without creating unnecessary barriers to openness and collaboration. 

The webinar will cover: 

• Why academic ethics, research integrity and institutional trust matter for research security. 
• What Lithuanian research surveys reveal about pressure, reporting culture and responsible research. 
• Protecting academic freedom while identifying risks involving data, technology and research activities. 
• How universities can establish clear responsibilities, proportionate risk assessment and fair decision-making. 
• Practical steps toward a culture of responsibility and trust in Lithuania’s research institutions. 

Organized by SCRIS, the RIS series brings together policymakers, researchers, industry representatives and practitioners to discuss the challenges shaping research, technology and innovation security, as well as national and institutional responses. 

Melita Phachulia, Executive Assistant, will moderate the discussion. The event will begin with a presentation followed by a Q&A session.   

Speaker:

Dr. Reda Cimmperman is the Ombudsperson for Academic Ethics and Procedures of the Republic of Lithuania, appointed in March 2024. She has over 15 years of experience in science policy, research governance, and academic integrity. Previously, she served as Scientific (General) Secretary and Head of the Secretariat at the Research Council of Lithuania. 

She actively contributes to European and international initiatives on research ethics, integrity, and research security. She is a member of the European Network of Research Integrity Offices (ENRIO), Lithuania’s delegate to the Council of Europe’s ETINED platform, and Lithuania’s representative in European Research Area initiatives addressing research ethics, integrity, and artificial intelligence in science. 

Her work focuses on promoting responsible research practices, strengthening ethical governance, and finding a balance between research openness, security considerations, and academic freedom.