Toespraak minister Rianne Letschert (OCW) bij de opening van the European Network Conference on Research Security
Op dinsdag 26 mei 2026 sprak minister Rianne Letschert bij de opening van ENCORS, een Europese conferentie over kennisveiligheid bij internationale samenwerking in hoger onderwijs en wetenschap. De bijeenkomst was in de aula van de TU Delft. Deze tekst is alleen in het Engels beschikbaar.
Good morning everyone,
It is a great honour to welcome you all to the Netherlands, and to Delft. I understand you have come from more than 30 different countries.
Perhaps you had a chance to look around as a tourist on your way here. Perhaps something caught your eye - a phenomenon that is typically, unmistakably Dutch.
I am talking about the bicycle, and more specifically the role cyclists play in Dutch traffic. And for those who have not had the chance to see it in person: social media is full of videos showing busy Dutch intersections where cyclists, pedestrians and cars cross in every direction at once.
There seems to be a system, but from the outside it looks like pure chaos. And frankly intimidating, if you did not grow up on a bike.
Most Dutch people learn to cycle young. As a mother, I can tell you: teaching your child to ride a bike is nerve-racking. It is a constant act of balancing. And that, come to think of it, describes parenthood in general.
On the one hand, you want to protect your child as much as possible. You would wrap them in cotton wool and never let them outside.
On the other hand, you want to give your child as much freedom as possible. You know that the only way to learn to ride a bike is to actually ride one. The bike itself teaches you how to build momentum and find your balance. But that freedom also comes with the very real risk of accidents.
The truth is, both extremes are problematic: maximum protection as much as maximum freedom.
So parents learn to navigate a much harder middle path. Enough protection to prevent accidents, enough freedom to let the child develop independence.
Responsible guidance, you might call it.
Now, we are not here for a conference on parenting. We are not here to talk about traffic either. And I have no intention of delivering a tourism pitch for the Netherlands.
But I do see a parallel.
Knowledge security policy is also a search for the middle path. A balancing act, in the best tradition of classical virtue ethics.
At one extreme lies naivety, leaving everything open. At the other extreme lies paranoia, leading to distrust and isolation.
Both approaches are understandable, and both have a certain appeal, precisely because they are simple.
But both are also problematic in their imbalance.
Ultimately, both are damaging to the openness and international collaboration that are the foundations of excellence in research and innovation.
That is why our mantra remains, also during this conference: as open as possible, as closed as necessary. Knowledge security is, and will remain, a constant balancing act.
Let me return to the Netherlands as cycling nation for a moment. A healthy and safe cycling culture takes more than just children learning to ride. Dedicated cycle lanes, separate traffic lights for cyclists, bike parking everywhere: these are just as essential. As are clear rules that give cyclists a recognised and protected place in traffic.
Knowledge security works the same way. It rests on awareness, infrastructure, and - where necessary - clear rules and guidelines. And like a safe cycling culture, it is never truly finished.
Balancing means constantly adjusting, constantly correcting. It is not the easy path, but it is the right one.
And what a waste it would be if we did not share the best balancing lessons with one another. Today’s and tomorrow’s European Network Conference on Research Security (ENCORS) is the platform to do exactly that: to learn from each other, both at a scientific level and in very practical terms.
The world is becoming increasingly uncertain. Geopolitical tensions and growing security threats are putting higher education and research under real pressure.
European academic and scientific institutions are increasingly exposed to foreign interference, from both state and non-state actors. We are learning to deal with this new reality, and we are taking measures to safeguard our academic freedom, scientific integrity, and the openness of higher education and research.
The Dutch approach to knowledge security is built on close collaboration between government and knowledge institutions, each working from their own distinct role and responsibility.
That partnership is reflected in two pillars that guide our policy. The first is self-regulation by the knowledge sector. The second is awareness-raising throughout the sector.
This matters deeply to us. We want knowledge institutions to be able to make their own informed risk assessments. Our goal is to increase the resilience of our knowledge sector, not to obstruct it.
To support this, we have established a National Contact Point for Knowledge Security. It helps institutions assess international collaborations, provides expertise and advice, and facilitates the exchange of best practices through its learning community. And the response so far tells us that this approach is working.
I am also pleased that the Dutch Research Council has recently announced it will fund a consortium dedicated to conducting research on research security. Because good policy does not come from intuition alone. It must be informed and shaped by scientific evidence and insight.
And where necessary, we do not shy away from clear rules. Where the risks to national security are greatest, we are looking into legislation to screen students and researchers who will be working with sensitive knowledge and technology. The aim is to reduce the risk of unwanted transfers of knowledge and technology.
The coming days will be devoted to mutual learning and exchange. Sharing the threats we see emerging, and the measures we are taking in response.
The programme ahead is impressive and rich, with 40 different sessions and 80 different speakers.
I know that European countries have taken significant steps to raise awareness and build resilience. At the same time, more action is needed.
Targeted policy is needed - and it cannot be done alone. Knowledge security requires a coordinated European response, with shared frameworks and a level playing field. Because if the rules differ from country to country, we create vulnerabilities that undermine us all.
And because institutions are at the heart of this effort, I am particularly glad to see them seek each other out, strengthen their ties, and build a shared approach to knowledge security. The Netherlands is eager to work alongside you to make that happen.
Dear guests,
This auditorium is a paradise for lovers of brutalism. The architectural style defined by raw concrete, exposed structure, and no attempt to charm. The editors of the recently published Atlas of Brutalism in the Netherlands gave this building first place. They described it as "an ark that cannot float" - or even "a spaceship."
But unlike an ark or a spaceship, a university does not travel in isolation through vast, empty space. The very nature of knowledge institutions is collaboration across borders, the exchange of ideas, and the ability to act as a magnet - drawing students and researchers from every corner of the world. That is something precious and fragile. More like Delft pottery than concrete. In a world full of threats, we must rediscover that collaboration is our strongest defence.
The presence of hundreds of professionals from so many different countries is a powerful signal: the European higher education and research sector is engaged, active, and ready.
This conference is the first of its kind. The largest research security conference ever hosted in Europe, built for and by the knowledge sector.
You are, ultimately, at the very heart of research security policymaking. I want to express my particular thanks to Delft University of Technology and to Peter Weijland and his team for organising and hosting this conference.
I wish you an inspiring exchange of knowledge and experience. In the finest tradition of open science, and in the equally fine tradition of searching for the right balance.
As open as possible.
As closed as necessary.
And when you step outside: take a moment to watch the cyclists. See how they navigate the chaos, find their balance, and keep moving.
It is, in its own way, a masterclass in exactly what we are here to do.
Thank you.