Leading German research organizations are calling for clear guidelines to protect security-relevant knowledge. According to Christoph Schmidt, president of the Leibniz Community, while the international openness of science remains “indispensable,” it must now be weighed more carefully against the risks of knowledge leakage and misuse.
Schmidt pointed to a change in scientific thinking, noting that with key technologies, such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), there is a growing recognition that they almost inevitably possess multiple-use potential. This means that research results or technologies can be utilized in various ways, including potentially in a military context.
Meanwhile, Holger Hanselka, president of the Fraunhofer Society, told the “Handelsblatt” that he expects the relevant authorities to provide “robust guidelines” that allow for evidence-based risk assessment, as well as “clear criteria and legal certainty” for evaluating sensitive technologies.
Hanselka rejected calls for blanket bans or isolation. Given the sensitive and application-focused nature of their research, Fraunhofer maintains a high level of risk awareness. Regarding security checks for researchers, Hanselka stated that the society supports such reviews only when the state identifies a specific need for protection in certain security-sensitive activities or fields, and when a legal framework for doing so is in place.
