Knowledge security for VU Amsterdam employees

• What is knowledge security?

  The purpose of knowledge security is to ensure that international collaboration can take place securely. It is about knowing and recognising the security risks associated with international collaboration, with the aim of enabling such collaboration between scholars to take place as securely as possible. It is based on the core values of academic freedom and scientific integrity. 

  Knowledge security policy has three aims. First, it is about preventing the undesirable transfer of sensitive knowledge and technology. Any such transfer is undesirable if it affects national security. Knowledge security is also about the covert influences on education and research by other states. Such interference forms a danger to academic freedom and security in society. Finally, knowledge security concerns ethical issues that could arise in the collaborative partnerships with countries that do not respect fundamental rights or, in the case of VU Amsterdam, institutions that do not share our academic values.

  Below are a number of examples that will help you form a clearer picture about what knowledge security can involve.

  1. Specific research examples that could be misused in restrictive countries are:

  • Research about deradicalisation
  • Research about protests
  • Research about the position of minorities in wars, past or present
  • Research into a dual-use product, such as certain flame retardants
  • Research into biotechnology (dual use possible)
  • Research into artificial intelligence (AI)

  2. Ethical or moral dilemmas may be a factor in collaborations with countries that do not respect fundamental rights. Examples include the risk of violating human rights or academic values, of the misuse of knowledge, of compromising the security of researchers, including the possibility of pressure or coercion, or of inadvertent knowledge transfer (diversion). Examples include:

  • Datasets and personal data of research respondents. In particular, research projects in which the respondents have connections with a high-risk country or if it concerns a vulnerable group.

• When is a knowledge security assessment needed?

  Whenever you wish to enter into a new collaborative partnership, or extend an existing one, the application of the Knowledge Security framework is mandatory. The application of the framework relates to:

  • If you are recruiting employees, inviting guest researchers, hosting guests for some time (courtesy privileges) or receive a delegation
  • If you are intending to visit an organisation in order to explore the possibilities for collaborating
  • If you are developing an international consortium or are working on a project proposal
  • If you are setting up a joint curriculum or inter-institutional agreement
  • If you are intending to draw up a collaboration agreement (NDA, MoU, LoI, contract or otherwise).
  • If you are planning to establish shared facilities or to attract foreign investment
  • You are planning to or are working together on a scientific article (co-authorship)
  • If you are offering professional support with any of the above
  • If you are approving/signing for any of the above

  Carry out the knowledge security assessment on international collaboration below (due diligence).

• VU Amsterdam knowledge security framework

  The VU Knowledge Security Framework came into force on 1 September 2023. This framework ensures that international cooperation can take place in a safe manner. It supports the consideration of whether or not to enter into a collaboration with a person, institution, funder or client. This means that when entering into international cooperation and/or relationships for research, education and business operations, everyone must always answer the questions in this framework before a collaboration can be entered into. 

  The points of attention for knowledge security are briefly elaborated below in six questions. If you answered yes to one or more questions or if you have doubts about one or more questions, always contact the faculty contact person for knowledge safety. 

  1. Is the person, company, organisation or country you want to collaborate with on the EU or UN sanctions list?
  2. Does the research fall under the Dual-Use Regulation?
  3. Is the partner associated with a foreign military organisation outside the EU (over the past 4 years)?
  4. Does the collaboration involve sensitive research?
  5. Does the research involve any practices or issues that could potentially be ethically questionable?
  6. Is the collaboration, or are incoming employees, funded solely by the partner (unilateral external financing)?

  For the full version of the framework, see the appendix at the top of the page (Knowledge Safety Framework VU version).

  The overview of key technologies from Annex 1 of the framework can be found here.

  If your answer is 'yes' to one or more questions of the framework or if you have doubts about one or more questions, you must complete the comprehensive knowledge security questionnaire. You should then discuss the completed questionnaire with the knowledge security contact person within your faculty or service. The comprehensive questionnaire can be found here.

• VU Amsterdam advisory group on knowledge security

  The VU Knowledge Security Advisory Group (hereinafter referred to as the advisory group) is involved in advising on knowledge security on the one hand, and on the other hand, the advisory group integrates policy within the VU. Furthermore, the advisory group is involved at both national and European level, in this way knowledge security can be further developed in a proportionate manner.

  The advisory group provides advice when the contact person or the board of a faculty or service requests this. This request for advice follows after completing and discussing the extensive questionnaire. If necessary, the advisory group will request information (non-public) via the National Contact Point for Knowledge Security. The National Contact Point for Knowledge Security provides help to knowledge institutes with questions about opportunities, risks and practical matters relating to international collaboration. One such example concerns the weighing up of opportunities against security and other risks in the context of an international collaboration.

  Please note: are you planning to submit a question to the Contact Point for Knowledge Security? You should always do so in coordination with the VU Amsterdam advisory group on knowledge security.

• Factsheets that can help create a safe knowledge environment

  A number of factsheets are available to help with weighing up considerations relating to knowledge security. They are:

  • Appointing new employees
  • Role of a manager for knowledge-secure collaboration
  • Biosecurity
  • Criteria for tenders
  • Help with checking the EU sanction list
  • International travel
  • Maintain control and prevent dependency (before, during and after collaboration)
  • Receiving foreign delegations
  • Special stipulations for Russia and Belarus
  • Country specific sanctions on technology

  Other important documents:

  • The VU Amsterdam knowledge security framework
  • The Nationale Leidraad Kennisveiligheid (national knowledge security guidelines; central government)

  If you have any questions about any of the factsheets, please contact the advisory group on knowledge security. Versions for the blind and visually impaired are also available via the advisory group.

Faculty contact persons

• ACTA

  Tijmen Münker

• BETA

  1. Esther van den Hengel 

  2. Maaike Verbree 

• FGB

  Ravenna Aarnoutse 

   

• FGW

  1. Liesbeth Geudeke 

  2. Sam Heijnen 

• FRT

  Research Bureau FRT

• FSW

  Research Ethics Review Committee (RERC)

• GNK (UMC)

  Bart van Rijn 

• RCH

  Michel van Raaphorst 

• SBE

  Ina Putter

Service contact persons

• BZ

  1. Sam de Groot (BBO) 

  2. Tom Paffen (BJZ) 

• C&M

  Gijsbert Siertsema 

• DURF

  Kirsten Walraven

   

• FCO

  Yoni Shem Tov

• Finance

  Martijn Kragten

• HRM

  Paul van Soest

• IT

   Jan-Willem Vermeulen 

• SOZ

  Henk van den Heuvel

• UB

  Joeri Both