National Platform for Research Security to be established

(19.12.2025) The Federal Ministry of Research, Technology, and Space (BMFTR), the Alliance of Science Organizations, and the state ministries of science have agreed on key points for strengthening research security and establishing a National Platform for Research Security.

Wolfgang Wick, Chair of the German Science and Humanities Council (WR), explains: "The platform is a rapid implementation of a recommendations made by the WR in May of this year. Politics and science are thus filling a gap: the field of security-relevant areas has grown, and external influences and dependencies are becoming increasingly apparent. This leads to difficult considerations that often overwhelm individual scientists and institutions. The platform will provide scientific actors with rapid and unbureaucratic support in assessing risks and will provide guidance on dealing with critical partners in international collaborations. We need dialogue between science and politics in order to assess risks and protect our position as a center of scientific excellence."

The National Platform for Research Security aims to support the scientific community in assessing planned collaborations, research topics and participating individuals or institutions in order to realistically evaluate risks and opportunities. The goal is to identify security-related, legal, ethical and strategic risks at an early stage, protect the integrity of one's own institution and make informed decisions about trustworthy, long-term collaborations.

In addition, the platform is intended to conduct ongoing national risk analysis in the area of research security, identifying existing and future national and international threats and risks independently of individual cases.

The National Platform for Research Security consists of a coordinating steering committee and a supporting service centre. A mandate from the National Security Council is planned. The service centre will be located at the BMFTR. The steering committee is to represent science and politics equally and consist of representatives from the federal ministries involved, the science ministries of the federal states, the security authorities and alliance organisations.

Detailed planning and preparation for the National Platform for Research Security will begin in January 2026. The launch is scheduled for autumn 2026.

The Science and Humanities Council also calls for the implementation of its further recommendations from May 2025 on dealing with security-relevant research.  Wolfgang Wick emphasises: ‘What we also urgently need now are structures and instruments to meet the growing demand for scientific solutions for our security. To this end, the WR recommends establishing a Strategic Dialogue Forum at the National Security Council that can identify security-related research needs and recommend funding formats.’

Furthermore, the WR proposes that Germany establish and provide long-term support for innovation hubs in this field. These should operate flexibly, be managed entrepreneurially and bring together expertise from different scientific institutions. The best minds should be brought together with the aim of creating innovations and rapid applications.