The Union and the Social Democrats (SPD) advocate for mandatory security measures for universities and research institutes following the controversial cooperation undertaken by the Helmholtz Centre Cispa with China. Members of the CDU and CSU parliamentary faction are demanding that federal funding be contingent upon adequate protection of sensitive knowledge. According to strategy papers reported by the “Handelsblatt” (Friday edition), “We will legally anchor these requirements.”
These research organizations are expected to develop binding rules for collaborations with states outside the EU by the end of the year. Should they fail to do so, the federal government plans to implement its own specific guidelines.
The SPD in the Bundestag also insists on mandatory standards, stating that research security is “a national task” that must be “systematically integrated into funding conditions, organizational structures, and research processes.”
Furthermore, the SPD proposes creating a “technology list” to classify specific research fields as sensitive and deserving of enhanced protection. The Union, meanwhile, is advocating for compliance systems, an annual security status report, and the implementation of stricter visa regulations.
