A German leading researcher’s move to the Chinese telecom company Huawei has sparked a debate in Berlin about research security and potential knowledge leakage. The physicist, formerly heading the renowned Heinrich-Hertz-Institut (HHI) of the Fraunhofer Society, will now oversee the development of optical chips for Huawei.
The Federal Ministry for Research and Innovation described the switch as “disturbing”. A ministry spokesperson told the “Handelsblatt” (Friday edition) that staff changes, in principle, are not objectionable. However, such moves should not result in “state‑funded, security‑relevant research ultimately benefiting a systematic rival”. The ministry announced it would work on proposals to strengthen research security.
Criticism from members of the Bundestag’s security policy committees was sharp. CDU MP Roderich Kiesewetter called the transfers and overall research cooperation with China “highly critical”. He warned that China is viewed as a major threat in economic and scientific espionage, adding that China “plans in the long term and installs components in our networks that could later be used against us”.
SPD digital‑policy spokesman Johannes Schätzl acknowledged legitimate concerns about knowledge outflows in key technologies. He urged discussions on making such personnel moves “more transparent and clearly regulated” in the future.
Green deputy parliamentary group chair Konstantin von Notz noted a “slight undertone” to the exchange, even though, legally, the move might not raise objections.
