International Science Policy

The EU is a key area of action for science policy. The aim of Leopoldina is to make the interests of the German scientific community visible in the shaping of European policy. The researcher-centred perspective takes centre stage, as do fundamental values such as freedom of research, excellence, integrity and inclusivity.

The Leopoldina is involved in important debates on the European Research Area (ERA), the EU Framework Programme for Research and Innovation (FP9 & FP10) and European science diplomacy.

It also contributes evidence and expertise to policy-for-science discussions - for example on genome editing or the implementation of the EU Competitiveness Compass.

In addition, the Leopoldina is actively involved in specific committees of the Alliance of Science Organisations and is represented in Forum.EU - the German government's central advisory structure for European research and innovation policy.

ESAF was founded in 2014 and is a semi-formal body of chief scientific advisors from EU member states and EU-associated and candidate countries.

At the request of the Federal Government, the President of the Leopoldina represents Germany on the ESAF. The Leopoldina is also represented on the forum's Executive Committee.

The main purpose of ESAF is to exchange best practice in science-based policy-making and social opinion-forming in the EU. It is committed to ensuring that scientific perspectives are systematically incorporated into political decision-making processes and reach the general public.

The structures of science-based advice differ in the EU Member States, which is why an ongoing flow of information between capitals and in trialogue with the structures of the European Commission and the European Union is essential.

International cooperation is indispensable for science, but is caught between geopolitics, security and strategic autonomy. As a result, questions of scientific freedom and security are moving more into focus - both in terms of domestic and foreign policy.

Through briefings and dialogue formats, it raises awareness of risks and differentiated approaches to freedom and security. Restrictive measures need to be carefully weighed up, while researchers should be empowered to manage the risks of their international work independently.

The Leopoldina also contributes its expertise to the German government's bilateral foreign science policy, for example in the Commissions for Scientific and Technological Cooperation (STC) - an instrument for shaping cooperation with selected countries. It also emphasises the importance of science and technology for Germany's bilateral relations with partner countries by organising high-level events.