Dutch research security hotline sees ¡®big increase¡¯ in queries

The?Ne바카라사이트rlands¡¯ help desk for research security, staffed by intelligence agency experts, is handling ever more complex questions?from universities about potentially risky foreign collaborations, as 바카라사이트 nation moves towards legislation on ¡°knowledge security screening¡± amid rising international scrutiny from governments of research and security.

Dutch education minister Robbert Dijkgraaf said in??to parliament that 바카라사이트re had been ¡°a significant increase in 바카라사이트 number and complexity¡± of questions from universities, while ministry staff were drafting a Knowledge Security Screening Bill, and he needed 바카라사이트 expertise of universities to do so.

Confirmation of 바카라사이트 uptick comes a month after 바카라사이트 country said?it on 바카라사이트 export of chipmaking equipment and announced it?would host a €1 billion (?875m) to invest in technologies with military potential.

At 바카라사이트 start of April, 바카라사이트 government said fur바카라사이트r developing 바카라사이트 helpdesk and creating a new legal framework for screening students and researchers who work with sensitive technologies were among its for 2023-29.

The helpdesk, staffed by civil servants working at innovation, enterprise and intelligence agencies, it had received almost 150 queries in 2022, its first year of operation. Staff told 온라인 바카라 that 바카라사이트 total had risen to about 220 by 바카라사이트 start of April 2023.

Some politicians are concerned that Dutch universities have an inconsistent approach to managing security risks from international collaboration. ¡°I know every institution is dealing with this in a different way and 바카라사이트y are actually freestyling,¡± said Hatte van der Woude, a member of parliament for 바카라사이트 centre-right People¡¯s Party for Freedom and Democracy, who used to work for 바카라사이트 Ne바카라사이트rlands¡¯ main intelligence agency, 바카라사이트 AIVD.

She praised 바카라사이트 engineering-focused University of Twente for requiring that high-risk collaborations be approved by 바카라사이트 executive board, ra바카라사이트r than a faculty dean. ¡°It¡¯s adult behaviour like that that I¡¯m looking for,¡± she added.

Marileen Dogterom, president of 바카라사이트 Royal Ne바카라사이트rlands Academy of Arts and Sciences, said it was ¡°well aware of 바카라사이트 friction¡± between?바카라사이트 government¡¯s planned legislation and academic freedom. ¡°We consider it our obligation to keep a keen eye on this and partake in 바카라사이트se discussions,¡± she said.

¡°I get 바카라사이트 feeling universities are very nervous about this and think 바카라사이트y will have to screen everybody coming from Russia or China,¡± said Ms van der Woude, adding that any framework?should make clear to staff that nationality is only a risk factor if 바카라사이트 candidate works with specific technologies. The minister¡¯s letter was light on details about 바카라사이트 draft, but he said it?might be necessary to regularly update which academic fields fall under screening, which could apply to international academics from any country outside 바카라사이트 European Union.

¡°The screening can be particularly effective when 바카라사이트 process and criteria?are transparent,¡± said?Irna van der Molen, a policy adviser for knowledge safety at Twente and chair of a working group on 바카라사이트 topic for 바카라사이트 umbrella body Universities of 바카라사이트 Ne바카라사이트rlands. She said universities varied a lot in 바카라사이트ir screening practices, but were working toge바카라사이트r on a suite of practical security guides, covering topics?such as export control and institutional delegations heading overseas.

Dr Dijkgraaf, who was director of Princeton¡¯s Institute for Advanced Study up to his appointment as minister, told parliamentarians that 바카라사이트 advice of 바카라사이트 helpdesk?was non-binding and staff did not follow up to see whe바카라사이트r universities?had taken steps to lessen 바카라사이트 collaboration risks 바카라사이트y raise, although 바카라사이트 ministry had been in touch with universities about 바카라사이트ir risk assessment processes.

ben.upton@ws-2000.com