During APAN62 in Auckland, New Zealand, heads of research and education networks across the Asia Pacific region have endorsed the Auckland Declaration of Intent on Cyber Resilience. The agreement comes as cyber incidents pose mounting risks to the digital systems underpinning research collaboration, education delivery, and cross-border knowledge exchange.
The declaration binds participating organizations to coordinate on trust-building, readiness measures, data exchange, response coordination, and collective assistance, subject to applicable national legislation and institutional guidelines.
Research and education networks serve as essential infrastructure for international scholarly work. They grant researchers, educators, and academic institutions access to datasets, high-performance computing, specialized equipment, and professional knowledge. As these networks expand their interconnections, disruptions in one location can ripple across multiple jurisdictions and institutions.
Speaking for the APAN/Asi@Connect Leaders Forum, Roshan G Ragel stressed that cyber resilience rests on interpersonal relationships as much as technical systems. "Research and education networks do not operate in isolation. When one part of our community is affected, others may need to help quickly, share information, or coordinate a response," he said.
"This declaration is about building that trust before it is needed."
Ragel underscored the necessity of regional coordination given the inherently global nature of research and education communities. "Our users collaborate across [economies], time zones, and institutions. The networks that support them need to be ready to do the same when disruption occurs," he explained.
"The declaration provides a practical foundation for strengthening cooperation while recognizing that each organization operates within its own national, legal, and institutional context."
The agreement also aligns regional initiatives with the Global Security Policy Alliance (GSPA), a worldwide framework designed to advance security collaboration among research and education networks. Signatories intend to explore creating a regional chapter or comparable mechanism while preserving their individual priorities and independence.
The declaration was signed by Amber McEwen, Chief Executive Officer of REANNZ; Shinji Shimojo, Chair of the APAN Board; Jungsu Song, President of TEIN*CC; and Roshan G. Ragel.