Protect open and free science in Europe. That call is made by the national academies of science, including the Dutch KNAW, ahead of the European elections on Thursday 6 June.
For science, internationalisation is an important issue. After incidents with China and the war in Ukraine, some European member states distrust the international cooperation and exchange of researchers and students.
In the Netherlands, there are plans for stricter screening of foreign students and scientists. A big country like Germany is also working on restrictions. The door is not locked, but as the European Commission describes it: ‘cooperation with China is increasingly nuanced and transactional’. Other countries are also under a magnifying glass.
But international cooperation and exchange of knowledge, researchers and students are precisely a major asset of the European Union, the academies of science of 27 member states write in a joint statement. Scientists and students should be able to do their work “at all times under safe conditions”.
They further believe that countries should invest 3 per cent of their GDP in research and development. In her contribution to a press conference, KNAW president Marileen Dogterom underlined that the Netherlands does not yet reach that agreed 3 per cent.
‘Challenges’ like climate change, biodiversity loss, international migration, food security and the energy transition can only be tackled on a mutual trust-based dialogue between science, politics, civil society organisations and business, Dogterom underlined.
How can you do open and free science in a world with so many military and geopolitical threats? Scientists should not be naive, Dogterom replied, and look carefully at who they are working with. They should also assess whether their research could have a military application. Dogterom: “We have to find the balance, otherwise we are not doing ourselves any favours.”
HOP, Bas Belleman
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