The DAAD’s Centre of Expertise for International Academic Cooperation (KIWi) has introduced a new Knowledge Security Checklist, a practice-oriented self-assessment and advisory tool designed to support German universities and researchers in navigating international cooperation. The checklist reflects the increasing importance of knowledge security in a complex geopolitical environment, expanding KIWi’s advisory services in the area of risk and security. 

Developed on the basis of more than five years of consulting experience and in collaboration with experts from academia and university administration, the checklist provides a structured framework for assessing cooperation-specific risks. It complements the KIWi Compass No Red Lines by offering a stronger focus on knowledge security issues and serves both as a self-assessment tool for individual researchers and as a resource for internal university review processes. 

The checklist consists of 17 guiding questions that cover key areas such as: 

• partners and financing 
• export control regulations 
• exploitation of results and intellectual property rights 
• ethical implications of academic collaboration 

The checklist addresses the risk dimensions identified by the German Council of Science and Humanities and contributes to Germany’s broader efforts to strengthen knowledge security in international academic cooperation. By offering a structured tool for both individual researchers and institutions, it enables universities to reflect on potential vulnerabilities, ensure compliance, and embed secure practices in global partnerships. 

 The self-assessment tool will also be available in English shortly. 

Read more (in German) here.