Elevating Democracy via Transatlantic Collaboration

In collaboration with the U.S. Embassy in Stockholm, the Institute for Security and Development Policy (ISDP) organized a series of conference events from March 11 to 14, 2024, held in various locations including Stockholm, Gothenburg, and a final closed-door roundtable in Luleå with local stakeholders. The goal was to raise awareness and encourage dialogue on the challenges posed by authoritarian regimes exploiting international research collaborations and corporate ownership for illiberal purposes.

The open event featured several prominent speakers, including Dr. Rebecca Spyke Keiser, the first Chief of Research Security Strategy and Policy (CRSSP) at the National Science Foundation (NSF), who discussed the JASON report on Safeguarding the Research Enterprise (accessible at https://encr.pw/irsXL). Other speakers included Dr. Jeffrey Becker from the Center for Naval Analyses, Dr. Tommy Shih of Lund University, Ms. Kristina Sandklef, an independent senior China analyst, Ms. Elisabet Lann, Deputy Mayor of Gothenburg, Mr. Magnus Sundemo, formerly of Volvo, Dr. Andreas Göthenberg from STINT, Dr. Erik Mo Welin of the National Knowledge Center on China, and Mr. Gunnar Hökmark of the Stockholm Free World Forum.

Over the past decade, there has been a notable increase in foreign influence over critical infrastructure and strategic industries across the EU, with Beijing particularly acquiring stakes or full ownership in companies providing essential services or leading technological innovation. This trend poses significant risks, as such control could allow China to exert undue pressure on national economic or security policies within these strategic sectors. Additionally, investigations have revealed that authoritarian regimes might be systematically leveraging scientific collaborations to gain access to intellectual property and dual-use technologies with military and domestic security applications, undermining the principles of open, liberal research.

Despite these concerns, international collaboration remains vital for innovation. Severing all intellectual and financial ties with authoritarian states is neither feasible nor desirable, as research thrives in diverse, global environments where various perspectives and expertise converge. This raises a critical issue: How can we maintain transparent, constructive collaboration that advances knowledge while protecting national security and economic interests?

To address this, ISDP advocates for the creation of a transatlantic platform that brings together scholars, government representatives, and private sector leaders. Such a platform would enable the exchange of experiences and coordination of strategies, recognizing that these challenges demand broad international consensus rather than isolated state-level responses. The conferences aimed to raise awareness and promote a nuanced understanding by examining the risks throughout the innovation ecosystem, sharing best practices that encourage transparency and critical thinking, and developing a research security strategy that preserves the benefits of international cooperation.