Knowledge safety is one of the aspects VU Amsterdam, led by Ralph Lasage, is working hard on. Ralph Lasage's work is aimed at ensuring that international research can take place as safely as possible, avoiding the undesired transfer of sensitive knowledge or influence from foreign actors and being mindful of ethical issues that may arise in cooperation with countries that do not respect fundamental rights.
Ralph: "This does not exclusively involve the usual suspects such as Russia, Iran and North Korea, but can also include parties that cooperate indirectly with these countries or are linked to a national government to such an extent that their scientific independence is compromised. We see this in collaborations with some Chinese universities, for example."
"Also, the term dual-use is important. You may be developing knowledge for civilian application, but it can also be used for military purposes. This does not have to be an obstacle to carrying out the research, but it is important to be aware of this and consider who gets access to this research."
"The underlying message is that as a researcher you have a responsibility to look critically at what you develop, with whom, and what you do with the final results. Just because something is not explicitly forbidden does not mean it is desirable. It is a huge grey area and therefore awareness is important here. When in doubt, do not hesitate to seek help via your department manager. The Knowledge Safety Advisory Group is happy to think along with you on how collaborations are possible, for example by taking measures."
What is the difference between sanctioned countries and countries with a different view of the world?
Ralph: "Regarding sanctions legislation: if an organisation or person is on that list, cooperation is not possible. Then we just need to do a check. But there is also research that can be used for military purposes. That is another typical subject where we are allowed to cooperate with many countries. But there are countries where, for example, universities are affiliated with the military. And of those, we now have to determine whether we want to cooperate with those organisations on certain topics."
Is the distinction then made on the basis of an issue like military research or on a country-by-country basis?
Ralph: "It's not one or the other, but rather a conversation you have to have. If you collaborate with a researcher from a country that has a different academic freedom from us, who may have worked at a military university. Then it's good to ask yourself whether that is allowed to work in a VU lab. Or how can we ensure that that person can work in his own lab, but not in another lab on another floor? What kind of agreements do you make about data that can be shared and with whom? This feels contradictory to the open attitude we have in research. However, there are unfortunately examples of researchers being pressured by their government to collect and pass on information. These are difficult and delicate issues for which there is no clear answer a priori. That is what we need to learn about further in the application of the knowledge security framework."