The German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) welcomes the Science Council's position paper "Science and Security in Times of Global Political Upheaval" published yesterday as an important impetus for Germany as a centre of science and research. The recommendations show how scientific cooperation can be organised responsibly in times of global crises and how the science location can remain internationally compatible.

"The current geopolitical upheavals are challenging the internationalisation of universities and international academic exchange in a completely new way," said DAAD President Prof. Dr Joybrato Mukherjee. "The Science Council's paper is therefore a clever analysis at the right time. It shows ways of protecting academic freedom and at the same time effectively increasing knowledge security in international cooperation."

"In the paper, the German Council of Science and Humanities also positively highlights the DAAD Centre of Excellence for International Academic Cooperation - KIWi for short - and its advisory and networking work. It had recommended the establishment of the KIWi in 2019," continued Mukherjee. At the same time, the German Council of Science and Humanities rightly pointed out the need for coordination at national level and proposed the establishment of a "National Platform for Knowledge Security": "A national platform of this kind that pools and networks existing expertise and structures - such as the KIWi and the joint committee of the German Research Foundation and Leopoldina - would be a good way to position Germany as a centre of science and research in the best possible way in geopolitically turbulent times and tough global competition," added the DAAD President.

The position paper also clarifies important terms in the public debate and looks at various dimensions of security issues in science. The DAAD is ready to contribute the regional expertise of its global network and the proven advisory structure of the KIWi to the further process. For the DAAD, the focus is on individual counselling, networking and support for German universities on issues of 'security and science' in international cooperation.