Europe, It’s Time to Wake Up on Research Security

Europe’s innovation scene is vibrant. It leads in automotive tech, green energy, and critical dual-use technologies. Yet, for all its brilliance, the EU is leaving its doors wide open. State-sponsored actors are picking through Europe’s intellectual crown jewels, and the response has been tepid at best. This isn’t just oversight; it’s a recipe for self-inflicted damage.

Intellectual theft isn’t some spy novel plot. It’s happening now. China, for one, has a well-documented playbook. They infiltrate through “collaborations,” citing “academic freedom” while funnelling vital research home. That freedom? It’s a one-way street. They’ll champion it when it suits them and trample on it when it doesn’t. The EU should be shouting from the rooftops about sovereignty, security, and protecting its future. But it’s not.

Read the complete article by Brian Iselin at the Wilfried Martens Centre for European Studies.

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