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Mandatory KST check for international projects and grant applications

Why this check?

Knowledge safety is becoming an increasingly important part of scientific research. International collaboration is valuable, but it can also entail risks, for example when collaborating with countries where different legislation, geopolitical interests or export restrictions apply. As a result, universities and researchers are increasingly in the spotlight: not only ministries and funding bodies, but also the media and public debate are demanding explanations.

Funding bodies such as NWO and the Ministry of Defence now explicitly require projects to be assessed in advance by the Knowledge Safety Team (KST). The European Commission and the Dutch government are also tightening their policies. The KST check helps to prevent you from – often unintentionally – acting in violation of legislation and regulations or international sanctions.

How does it work?

Since the beginning of this year, it has been mandatory to complete the KST checklist when submitting a grant application or entering into an international collaboration.

  • In most cases, you will receive confirmation within three days that there are no risks and you can continue with your application.
  • Only in the event of an increased risk will the KST contact you for additional questions or follow-up steps.
  • Basic knowledge is required to complete the checklist, such as: who the partners are, which countries they come from, what technology is involved, and whether the knowledge is publicly available.

What are the benefits?

Carefully completing the KST check:

  • protects you and the university against legal risks,
  • guarantees the integrity of international collaboration,
  • strengthens our reputation with the government, partners and society,
  • and enables us to participate authoritatively and critically in national and European discussions on knowledge security.

Staying alert together

In short: always complete the KST checklist for new international projects and grant applications. In this way, we can work together to ensure careful and safe collaboration in a changing geopolitical landscape, in which science offers opportunities but is also under scrutiny.

Learn more about the UT's knowledge safety policy.