Protecting Academic Freedom: DGM Supports Position Paper

In the position paper “Freie Wissenschaft – Erfolgreiche Wirtschaft – Starkes Deutschland” (Free Science – Sucessful Economy – Strong Germany) 23 leading scientific organisations and top-level business associations advocate for protecting and strengthening academic freedom. The German Society for Materials Science (DGM) welcomes this initiative and expressly supports the central concerns formulated in it. For materials science and engineering, free research, international exchange and independent scientific structures are fundamental prerequisites for knowledge, innovation, and successful transfer.

Ahead of upcoming state elections, 23 leading scientific organisations and top-level business associations have jointly taken a stand for the freedom of science. Their position paper establishes a close connection between a high-performing scientific landscape, innovative companies and Germany’s long-term competitiveness.

The German Society for Materials Science (DGM) welcomes this clear commitment to academic freedom and expressly supports the central concerns of the position paper. From the DGM’s perspective, scientific freedom and innovative capacity are directly linked. New knowledge, materials, processes and technologies emerge where research questions can be addressed according to scientific standards, results can be critically reviewed, and knowledge can be exchanged openly.

Science needs independent structures

Scientific progress is based on findings being verifiable and methods being transparent. Results are published, discussed, confirmed, further developed or refuted. The position paper therefore warns against attempts to delegitimize research findings, ideologically restrict fields of research, or instrumentalize science for political purposes. Such developments endanger not only the freedom of science but also the innovative capacity of business and society.

The DGM shares the conviction that scientific quality must be assessed according to professional criteria. This includes transparent methods, independent peer-review procedures, scientific self-governance and the freedom to pursue research questions whose outcomes are open.

DGM Managing Director Dr. Stefan Klein emphasizes the importance of these framework conditions: “Academic freedom is an indispensable prerequisite for scientific quality and technological progress. Especially in materials science and engineering, innovations emerge where researchers can ask questions openly, examine critically and collaborate internationally. Anyone who restricts this freedom or delegitimises scientific findings for political or ideological reasons therefore weakens not only science but also our country’s innovative capacity.”

Free research enables innovation and international exchange

Materials science and engineering in particular demonstrates how closely scientific knowledge and technological development are connected. New materials, manufacturing processes, and characterization methods emerge through the interaction of basic research, application-oriented research, and industrial implementation. Collaborations between academia and industry, patents, and spin-offs help transfer research results into technological innovations and new value creation. Among other examples, the position paper cites functional materials for efficient hydrogen and energy technologies.

The international openness of the science system is equally crucial. According to the paper, around half of all German scientific publications are produced together with international co-authors. International students and researchers also make a significant contribution to research, teaching and transfer in Germany.

For materials science and engineering, this networking is essential. Research questions relating to energy, mobility, digitalization, circular economy, resource efficiency, or sustainable production processes transcend institutional and national boundaries. An internationally competitive science location must therefore remain open and attractive to researchers and students from all over the world.

Academic freedom Is a shared responsibility

The central demands of the position paper include orientation toward scientific standards, the protection of scientific methods and results, the strengthening of independent review and self-governance structure as well as the promotion of trust in evidence-based findings. At the same time, the paper advocates for an open society and a lived culture of welcome.

The German Society for Materials Science (DGM) expressly supports these principles.

Free science, scientific integrity and international exchange are essential prerequisites for materials science and engineering to generate new knowledge and develop solutions from it for technological, industrial, and societal challenges. Protecting academic freedom therefore also means strengthening the long-term innovative capacity and competitiveness of Germany as a research and industrial location.

Position Paper (German)

(Source: DGM – German Society for Materials Science)