Securing sensitive science and technology research is more important than ever before to ensure countries’ national security and future economic prosperity. | US-Botschaft

Securing sensitive science and technology research is more important than ever before to ensure countries’ national security and future economic prosperity.   Germany’s research and innovation system continues to be a top target for cyberattacks, commercial espionage, and misappropriation and misuse of German research, with the German economy losing nearly €270 billion in 2024 to such malign actions according to a study by Bitkom. Thus, securing Germany’s research and innovation ecosystem is crucial – not only for Germany, but for building a stronger Transatlantic alliance that can defend itself from mutual threats.    In the spirit of supporting our Transatlantic partners to secure sensitive R&D, the Department of State’s Acting Science & Technology Advisor to the Secretary (STAS) Allison Schwier and Foreign Affairs Officer David Biggs joined German and international experts at the German Ministry of Research, Technology, and Space (Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung) International Conference “Joining Forces to Safeguard Research”.  They also engaged separately with universities, research institutes, academics, researchers, and Technische Universität Berlin students on the important topic of secure and effective innovation systems.   The United States applauds Germany’s inclusive approach to its research security stakeholder process, and we look forward to the outcome of trusted and secure scientific partnerships on sensitive research. The United States stands ready to continue to support our European partners as they work to defend critical science and research to ensure it benefits those societies that have invested in them.