Technological innovation in the EU depends on international research collaboration in cutting-edge fields, including quantum technologies, artificial intelligence (AI), biotechnologies, and clean energy. However, in an era of geopolitical rivalries, such collaboration carries risks of misappropriation or strategic capture of sensitive knowledge and technology. 

The KNOWSEC-NL project, titled ‘Fostering the Resilience of the Dutch Knowledge Sector: Knowledge Security and Research in a Geopolitical Context’ explores how major global powers leverage knowledge and innovation for security, what drawbacks there are, and how such drawbacks can be addressed. By mapping existing knowledge security measures across Dutch universities and research centers, the project aims to build a framework that helps institutions balance international collaboration with rising geopolitical risks. To achieve this, the research consortium is partnering with practitioners to refine Dutch and European policies, distribute best practices, and train research teams.

UvA and Asser are well represented

The University of Amsterdam is well represented within this NWO grant with a broad interdisciplinary presence. Machiko Kanetake (TMC Asser Institute and Amsterdam Law School) and André Nollkaemper (SEVEN and Executive Staff) develop two Work Packages, one on the conceptual framework and another on the normative balancing framework. Gulnaz Sibgatullina (Faculty of Humanities) analyses knowledge security vulnerabilities and supervises a PhD researcher.  Joost Reek (Faculty of Science), Cees Snoek (Faculty of Science), and Bob van der Zwaan (Faculty of Science and SEVEN) contribute to the project through domain-specific insights into sensitive technologies. Anh Nguyen (Amsterdam Law School),  Aya Polderman and Hanna Fricke (FGw Ethics Committee) will be part of the cooperation partners.

Multi-stakeholder collaboration on the study of knowledge security

The project brings together experts and stakeholders from the Dutch and international knowledge sectors, as well as related stakeholders. The co-applicants include, in addition to UvA, the University of Twente, Delft University of Technology, the University of Groningen, Utrecht University, HU University of Applied Sciences Utrecht, the Netherlands Defence Academy, the Rathenau Institute, and Centrum Wiskunde & Informatica. 

Societal partners include the Dutch Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Defence, SURF, Neth-ER, Amsterdam UMC, the Netherlands Aerospace Centre, and TNO, as well as international partners such as KTH Royal Institute of Technology, CISPA Helmholtz Center for Information Security, University of Liège, University of Barcelona, and the Science History Institute.