Canada's move to protect research from hostile states is risky and useless

Open this photo in gallery: Jason Lee/The Associated Press Creso Sà¡ is a distinguished professor of science policy, higher education and innovation, and vice-dean of the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE) at the University of Toronto. Canada's Policy on Sensitive Technology Research and Affiliations of Concern, or STRAC, has recently been introduced ostensibly to safeguard national security and economic interests. The policy identifies the "illicit transfer of knowledge" in key areas of science and technology that could have military applications as posing "major challenge to Canada and its allies." To prevent this from happening, the policy creates an…