Martin Keller, President of the German Helmholtz Association for Research, has publicly advocated for strict guidelines when dealing with critical nations such as China. Speaking to the “Handelsblatt”, he stated that when dealing with military research, “we don’t need to discuss it for long: we need clear rules.” He emphasized that academic freedom must cease at the point where the utilization of research by foreign states could put Germany at risk.
Looking specifically at the recent allegations concerning the Helmholtz Center for Information Security (Cispa), Keller welcomed the federal government’s decision to assign a special inspector. He confirmed that he met with Cispa CEO Michael Backes in January. While stressing that he is not against cooperation with Chinese entities, Keller expressed concern regarding the substantial number of Chinese citizens working at the center, adding that he hopes these individuals have been thoroughly vetted. He expressed hope that the special review will bring swift clarity to the matter.
More broadly, Keller stressed the seriousness of the situation, stating that the reputation of German research is at stake. He concluded by advising that any applications from individuals originating from military universities seeking to conduct research in Germany or Europe should always be closely scrutinized.
