Dutch Universities Safeguard Data Amid US Research Funding Threats
Netherlands, Monday, 21 April 2025.
Dutch universities are collaborating to secure vital scientific data stored in the US, anticipating potential cuts to American research funding, ensuring continuity despite policy uncertainties.
Collaborative Protection Initiative
A consortium of major Dutch scientific institutions, including the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW), the Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research (NWO), Universities of the Netherlands (UNL), and the IT organization Surf, have joined forces to protect vital research data stored on American servers [1]. This unprecedented collaboration comes as concerns mount over the Trump administration’s plans to restrict funding for various research fields, particularly in climate science and gender studies [1].
Data Security Challenges
The initiative faces significant technical and logistical challenges. According to Magchiel Bijsterbosch of Surf, storing all scientific data currently held in the US within the Netherlands is not feasible [1]. The situation is particularly complex for biomedical sciences, which often rely on organic materials stored in American facilities, and climate science research, which depends on extensive satellite infrastructure and long-term measurement series [1]. The Dutch institutions are actively seeking international partnerships to address these storage challenges and prevent permanent loss of crucial scientific data [1].
Broader Context of Research Security
This data protection initiative emerges amid growing concerns about research security across Europe. The Dutch academic sector has recently introduced other protective measures, including the Knowledge Security Screening Bill, tabled on April 7, 2025, which aims to enhance research security through increased vetting of international researchers [2]. Moreover, the initiative aligns with broader European efforts to safeguard academic research, as evidenced by similar protective measures implemented in Denmark and Sweden [3].