Security
Keeping knowledge safe when collaborating with international partners
From 1 March 2025, you will need to do a knowledge security check before starting any new international collaboration. Leiden University and the Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC) have introduced a new knowledge security policy (in Dutch). This details the basic principles to ensure sensitive information and technology are not inadvertently shared in international collaborations. For each collaboration, the potential risks need to be weighed against the opportunities. The aim is not to eliminate all risks but to prevent them as much as possible. The motto/basic principle here is: ‘Open what we can; protect what we must’.
What does the policy mean?
- If you wish to initiate a collaboration, you must carefully consider the risks and opportunities (interests) together with the director of your institute.
- You will use the knowledge security flowchart to weigh the risks and opportunities.
- If you have questions about risks and opportunities or the procedure, contact the knowledge security adviser at your faculty.
- The university will have a new Knowledge Security Committee chaired by Joanne van der Leun as of 1 March. If you have assessed the risks and opportunities of collaboration and are still unsure, you can submit the matter to the committee and they will issue a binding verdict. You can do so via the Knowledge Security Advice Desk.
The Faculty of Science
The Faculty of Science has its own provisional knowledge security procedure, the lessons and experiences of which will inform the further development of the university procedure. The Faculty will switch to the university procedure from 1 June 2025 and in the interim will work to ensure the transition to the university procedure runs smoothly. Faculty of Science staff will therefore follow their own procedure until 1 June.
More information
What is knowledge security? How does this procedure relate to developments concerning the fossil fuel industry and the ethical aspects of collaboration? How do we make sure our knowledge security policy does not stigmatise other nationalities? More information and answers to our frequently asked questions.