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Knowledge security for VU Amsterdam employees

Last updated on 28 March 2024
Knowledge security allows international collaboration to take place securely. At VU Amsterdam, we work in accordance with the VU Amsterdam knowledge security framework.

At VU Amsterdam, we attach great value to international collaboration. This is crucial for top-level research and high-quality academic education. As well as opportunities – for research, education, innovation and open knowledge sharing – it also entails risks. Universities are a popular target for acquiring sensitive knowledge and technologies. A possible consequence of this is the undermining of academic freedom and censorship (including self-censorship).

Read here how VU Amsterdam approaches knowledge security and what, as an employee, you should look out for. The page provides clarity about what steps should be taken when entering into, extending or evaluating an international collaborative partnership. The VU Amsterdam knowledge security framework is the governing principle on this and is a useful guide on asking the important critical questions about the background of the foreign partner organisation or customer (due diligence). As well as the framework, there are several tools available on foreign travel and on appointing people (see the bottom of the page).

Contact persons knowledge security

To provide support regarding knowledge security at VU a knowledge security contact person is available within each faculty and service. The contact persons, who can be found at the bottom of this page per faculty and service, are the first point of contact for knowledge security and provide support in answering the questions from the Knowledge Security Framework. If you answered yes to one or more questions in the framework or if you have doubts about one or more questions, always contact your knowledge security contact person. 

If you have any questions or need more information, please contact the VU Amsterdam advisory group on knowledge security at kennisveiligheid@vu.nl. (see bottom of page).

  • 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 population has connections with a high-risk country.
    • Employee and student personal data, especially if an employee or student has a connection with a high-risk country.

  • When is a knowledge security assessment needed?

    Whenever you wish to enter into a new collaborative partnership, or extend an existing one, it is important to conduct due diligence. However, due diligence is also advisable in the following cases:

    • If you are recruiting employees, inviting guest researchers or hosting guests for some time
    • 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 business 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
    • 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 advisory group on knowledge security is the main point of contact at VU Amsterdam, which faculties and service departments may contact with their questions about knowledge security. The group shares information, provides ideas and gives advice. In doing so, it seeks to strike a balance between (1) the opportunities that innovative research and international collaborations bring and (2) the risks relating to knowledge security. The advisory group on knowledge security is multidisciplinary in nature, including such areas of expertise as law, research and security.

    The group can provide help with the more restrictive matters in the VU Amsterdam knowledge security framework (see documents) and provide assistance in answering questions or suggesting ideas to tackle dilemmas. The advisory group is happy to provide input and ideas. 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. VU Amsterdam can contact the Contact Point with questions or help in making decisions.

    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:

    Other important documents:

    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.

Questions?

Send an e-mail to the VU Advisory Group on Knowledge Security