URIS guidelines for project collaborations and travelling to high-risk countries
Aarhus University has guidelines in place to safeguard research and innovation collaboration from espionage and misuse.
These guidelines follow the recommendations issued by the Ministry of Higher Education and Science’s Committee on Guidelines for International Research and Innovation Collaboration (URIS).
The intention behind the guidelines is to enable researchers and the university to work as openly as possible – and as securely as necessary.
Guidelines from January 1, 2026
- Project collaboration
- Travelling to high-risk countries
Project collaborations
Project collaborations
AU has introduced new guidelines for the risk assessment of research and project collaborations for which external funding is being applied or which involve written collaboration agreements between the participants.
When starting new research and project collaborations, researchers should identify any potential research security issues as early as possible in the process – preferably at the idea stage.
A written risk assessment form must be completed and approved by head of department if your research project includes:
Collaboration with researchers from high-risk countries
If a research project is classified as critical research and includes researchers not on the EU’s list of pre-approved countries
If a research project involves sanctioned countries/institutions/individuals
If a research project falls under the EU’s regulation for dual-use export controls
You can find more details on this page: Research security – project collaborations
Travelling to high risk counties
Travelling to high risk counties
All AU employees must take special precautions when traveling to high-risk countries.
Travel to high-risk countries requires written approval from the Head of Department. Before booking the trip, you must complete a risk assessment form and submit it to the Head of Department.
Employees traveling to high-risk countries must use dedicated travel smartphones and laptops that have restricted access to AU data and systems. Such IT travel kits can be ordered through Nat-Tech IT Support (please remember to contact them well in advance of your trip).
AU employees traveling to high-risk countries for private purposes are not required to complete a risk assessment form; however, in accordance with AU guidelines, they must not take any work-related equipment (e.g., a laptop or smartphone) with them.
You can read more on this page, where you will also find the risk assessment form for travel to high-risk countries: Research security – travel to high-risk countries.
