National Contact Point for Knowledge Security

What does the Contact Point for Knowledge Security do?

In the Netherlands, we develop a lot of valuable knowledge and technology. We cherish that expertise and, therefore, ensure that we protect it. We do this, among other things, with the National Contact Point for knowledge security. In this contact point, we bring together all central government's expertise in the knowledge security field. In this way, we can offer clear answers and advice.

You may have questions about academic collaboration with other countries. For example:

• Can an international partnership lead to unwanted transfer of knowledge and technology? This is the case if such a transfer threatens our national security.
• Is there any unwanted influence on education and research? Such influence endangers our academic freedom and social security.
• Are there ethical issues associated with the collaboration? These can play a role in collaboration with countries that do not respect people's fundamental rights.

Since 2022, all Dutch knowledge institutions have been required to pay attention to knowledge security. This includes appointing a portfolio holder for knowledge security at the board level and setting up a knowledge security advisory team, including a (knowledge) security coordinator. The National Contact Point maintains good contact with these representatives of the knowledge institutions. A learning community has also been set up for this group. This community actively exchanges knowledge, including a (closed) knowledge bank, e-learning, meetings and webinars.

For whom?

If you work for a knowledge institution, if your work involves international collaboration, or when you need to weigh up opportunities and (security) risks within international collaborations, you can send questions to the point of contact. We recommend that you first contact your institution's knowledge safety coordinator. You can submit questions to the Knowledge Safety Desk via the contact form. 
The Knowledge Safety Desk is part of the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO). They will coordinate your question with the relevant ministry or ministries.

What is knowledge security?

Knowledge security means that we want to prevent the undesirable transfer of (sensitive) knowledge and technology, as this may have negative implications for Dutch national security and the ability to innovate.

We also want to prevent covert influence by state actors on higher education and research. This kind of foreign interference can lead, amongst other things, to (self-)censorship, which impairs academic freedom.

And knowledge security concerns ethical issues. These may arise when you collaborate with individuals and institutions from countries that do not respect fundamental rights. In that case, researchers from your institution may be at risk of getting involved in developing technology that these countries can use to oppress their citizens.

Neutral towards countries

The contact point is not country-specific. You can ask questions about international collaboration with all countries. The desk does not provide advice on the appointment of individual researchers and/or the admission of individual students. This also means the desk cannot accept documents containing personal data (e.g., CVs).

More information

Background   

• Letter to the House of Representatives about knowledge security measures in higher education and academia (PDF, in Dutch)
• VSNU Knowledge Security Framework for Universities (PDF)
• Netherlands Code of Conduct for Research Integrity (PDF)
• Threat Assessment of State Actors (PDF, in Dutch)
• European Code of Conduct for Research Integrity (PDF)
• National Action Plan for Greater Diversity and Inclusion (PDF)
• General Security Requirements for Defence Contracts (PDF)
• Export controls: SIPRI guide on software and technology transfers (PDF)

Practical sources

• Dcypher: the cybersecurity cooperation platform for research and innovation in the Netherlands
• Sanctions (EU Sanctions Map)
• Travelling abroad – Safety risks: AIVD flyer (PDF)
• ASPI China Defence Universities Tracker (Australia)

Examples of international rankings and indices

• Academic Freedom Index
• Freedom in the World Report by Freedom House 
• Democracy Index by The Economist Intelligence Unit (PDF)
• World Justice Project Rule of Law Index by World Justice Project