Iran, North Korea, and Russia are prohibited from acquiring knowledge that could be used to develop (nuclear) weapons, according to international agreements. The Netherlands is also bound by these so-called knowledge embargoes.
As a result, since 2019, Dutch higher education institutions must apply for exemptions for all participants involved in designated sensitive courses and research projects – not just those from the aforementioned countries.
Rejections
More than 2,000 exemption requests have been processed, resulting in just two immediate rejections. In an additional thirteen cases, authorities flagged an elevated security risk, Minister Eppo Bruins informed the House of Representatives.
This current system of knowledge embargoes is now being phased out. Going forward, knowledge security will be addressed as part of a broader screening mechanism for students and researchers across a wider range of sensitive disciplines.
Budget Concerns
Universities and the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW) have expressed concern about the impact this new screening will have on international collaboration. Moreover, the government has allocated no funding, which institutions have called “completely absurd.” Still, the cabinet plans to move ahead – an initiative also backed by the previous government. “Academic freedom and institutional autonomy are not limitless when national security is at stake,” Bruins stated in his letter.
Each year, an estimated 8,000 master’s students and researchers will be subject to screening due to their work in fields such as quantum cryptography, generative AI, or radar technology. This represents 40 percent of all new STEM researchers, excluding master’s students.
The total cost to the higher education sector is estimated at several million euros annually, in addition to €32 million in start-up expenses.
Preventing Knowledge Leakage
With the nationwide screening, the cabinet aims to prevent knowledge leakage. The scope will no longer be limited to Iran, Russia, and North Korea, but will also include other ‘state actors’, such as China, which is suspected of using Western-acquired knowledge to advance its military capabilities.
However, Dutch institutions have already taken steps to safeguard knowledge. Following a series of incidents and alarming reports – particularly involving China – universities have rejected hundreds of applications from foreign researchers and students based on advice from their own security committees.