Flanders’ Knowledge Security Screening – A European Concern

The question of screening foreign students and researchers for potential risks to knowledge security, raised by Kristof Slagmulder to Minister Matthias Diependaele during the April 24, 2025, meeting of the Committee for Economy, Employment, Social Economy, Science and Innovation in the Flemish Parliament, is not just a Flemish issue but a pressing concern for universities across Europe. While Flanders encounters delays, fragmented coordination, these challenges reflect broader European struggles to protect sensitive knowledge in an era of geopolitical risks. As Europe seeks to balance open research collaboration with safeguarding strategic assets, Flanders’ experience underscores the need for cohesive EU guidance to strengthen knowledge security frameworks across all member states.

Full transcript available via the Flemish Parliament: Meeting Report – April 24, 2025

Knowledge security has become a central issue in European research policy - and it is highly relevant for Flanders. While the region boasts world-class universities and research institutions, its current approach to screening foreign students and researchers contains major gaps. The delayed rollout of a centralized Knowledge Security Desk, a lack of clear funding, and overdependence on federal coordination all weaken its capacity to protect sensitive knowledge -especially from high-risk geopolitical actors. Without urgent reform, Flanders risks falling behind both in security and global competitiveness.

As mentioned, there is currently no operational Knowledge Security Desk - only a plan still under development by the Research Foundation - Flanders (FWO), with no fixed timeline or dedicated budget. Coordination is fragmented, and current screenings are largely left to individual universities via the Flemish Interuniversity Council (VLIR), resulting in inconsistency and limited oversight.

Another critical gap is the lack of private sector integration. Flemish tech companies- especially those working on dual-use or high-tech intellectual property - face similar risks as universities, yet they are essentially excluded from the current screening scope. That’s a major blind spot.

The Netherlands provides a strong benchmark. Its Knowledge Security Desk, operational since 2022, handled nearly 150 consultations in its first six months, according to Advalvas VU. Importantly, the Dutch desk is not merely advisory - it has the authority to flag and reject high-risk collaborations. It also coordinates closely with counterterrorism agencies, ensuring real-time, high-quality risk analysis.

The Dutch National Contact Point for Knowledge Security (under RVO) employs structured, government-backed risk assessment protocols. That level of rigor and integration simply does not yet exist in Flanders.

There are significant risks in continued delay. First, the threat of strategic knowledge transfer to hostile states - particularly in sensitive fields such as AI, semiconductors, or biotechnology. Second, compliance gaps with EU sanctions frameworks. For example, sanctions against Iran’s ballistic missile program require swift, coordinated action. Delays or fragmented systems increase the risk of non-compliance.

And then there's reputational risk. If Flanders cannot demonstrate robust safeguards, it may lose international partners or access to EU research programs, which increasingly prioritize security.

It’s true that universities have raised concerns about overregulation. Overly rigid or opaque screening mechanisms could chill international collaboration or constrain academic freedom -especially given the global nature of modern research. Flanders should adopt tailored, partner-specific assessments rather than one-size-fits-all rules. Transparency is essential so that universities understand why certain collaborations are flagged and can trust the process.

Private firms are also largely left out - despite holding vast stores of critical IP and frequently collaborating with foreign entities. Flanders urgently needs public-private task forces to expand the reach of EU dual-use and IP protection guidelines into industry. This aligns with calls for stronger IP protection mechanisms.

To move forward, Flanders must allocate a dedicated budget - combining Flemish and EU funds (e.g., through the proposed European Centre of Expertise on Research Security) to support the Knowledge Security Desk without diverting resources from core research; adopt the EU’s foreign interference and dual-use toolkit, and extend it to include industry through structured partnerships.

Flanders should aim to position itself as a European leader in balanced knowledge security policy - one that protects innovation without compromising openness. Delays won’t just undermine security - they’ll cost credibility, funding, and talent.