The Technology Tug-of-War: Foreign Influence, Innovation, and National Security

🚨 How do global power struggles shape the future of research and innovation? 🚨

In this premiere episode of Innovation Insights, we dive into the high-stakes world of foreign influence in research—an issue that’s reshaping security, collaboration, and innovation in academia.

With geopolitical tensions escalating, how do shifting power dynamics between Russia, China, and the West impact the way universities and industries handle intellectual property, technology transfer, and national security?

🎙️ Featured Guests:

• Kevin Wozniak – Director of Research Security & Intellectual Property at COGR, bringing 25+ years of experience in university research administration and commercialization.
• Hugues Verrier – Retired Senior Intelligence Officer (CIA) with expertise in counterterrorism, financial intelligence, and national security strategy.

🔍 Episode Highlights & Timestamps

[00:10] Welcome to Innovation Insights – Host Amanda Sorensen introduces the podcast and this four-part series on foreign influence in research.

[00:33] Meet Our Experts – Kevin Wozniak and Hugues Verrier share their backgrounds in research security, intellectual property, and intelligence strategy.

[01:10] Why Foreign Influence in Research Matters – Beyond cybersecurity and IP theft: the geopolitical, economic, and national security concerns at play.

[02:12] The Global Power Shift – Hugues Verrier outlines major changes in international relations affecting research and innovation, including the end of the bipolar world order (U.S. vs. USSR), the rise of regional powers and economic interdependence, and the rapid acceleration of technology adoption.

[05:01] Russia’s Renewed Imperialism – How Russia’s push for territorial expansion and technological dominance affects research institutions and innovation hubs.

[06:07] China’s Scientific and Technological Ambitions – From long-term strategic planning to global influence in research and IP, China is reshaping the innovation landscape.

[07:32] What This Means for Research Institutions – How these geopolitical shifts impact universities, industries, and national security policies.

🔮 What’s Next?

This is just the beginning of a four-part series exploring foreign influence in research. In the next episode, we’ll unpack how these global shifts shape policy and intellectual property strategies.

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Prefer to read instead? Access the full transcript here.