Universities and Ministry of Defence express intention to explore further collaboration
Universities and Ministry of Defence express intention to explore further collaboration
The declaration was signed by State Secretary for Defence Derk Boswijk and UNL President Caspar van den Berg. It expresses the intention to further develop collaboration on issues related to security and resilience. The declaration does not automatically lead to new partnerships or research assignments. Universities and researchers will continue to assess potential collaborations independently and on a project-by-project basis.
Contributing to a safe and resilient society
The UvA already works with societal partners, including the Ministry of Defence, on issues that contribute to security and resilience. As a comprehensive university, the UvA contributes expertise from the social sciences and humanities, the natural sciences, and the medical field. This includes education in human rights; research into conflict and disinformation as a threat to democracy; research on detecting chemical warfare agents; and training Defence personnel in medical procedures.
The UvA sees it as its responsibility to develop knowledge on complex societal issues. By working with societal partners on initiatives aimed at strengthening security and resilience, we can use our research and education to help protect our democracy and freedoms.
Academic freedom
The declaration safeguards the autonomy and academic freedom of universities. Collaborations must also comply with national and international legal frameworks, as well as with our own ethical frameworks.
The UvA critically assesses potential projects, paying particular attention to ethical considerations, knowledge security and social responsibility. In developing possible forms of collaboration, European and national policy frameworks on intellectual property, knowledge security and Open Science will be observed. The UvA does not wish to be involved in human rights violations or war crimes.
The declaration therefore creates scope to explore where collaboration on knowledge development and dissemination may be possible and appropriate, while preserving the independent position and decision-making of universities and researchers.
Read the UNL and Ministry of Defence press release (in Dutch) on the signing on the UNL website.
You can also read more about the UvA’s guiding principle for collaboration on a safe and resilient society.