Geopolitical tensions creep their way into the work at higher education institutions as well. Freedom of research should not be restricted in the name of safety – it is especially important to protect right now.
In March 2025, the University of Helsinki decided to halt purchases from Chinese genetic technology company BGI Group. Individual research groups have bought genetic analyses from the company, and some other universities have also used their services.
In their news article, Yle stated that the BGI Group’s connections to the Chinese state and military have raised concern in the west and that it has been classified as a military company in the United States. In 2021, BGI got access to American genetic data.
The Data Protection Ombudsman asked the University of Helsinki to clarify the cooperation and communicate whether they have considered the possibility of Chinese officials accessing personal data. According to the university, such an assessment has not been performed. The purchases focused on 2018–2020, when such risks were not discussed to the extent they are now.
Now, research safety is a constant source of discourse. In today’s world, uncertainties and vulnerabilities are highlighted. There is Russia’s war in Ukraine, trade wars, an arms race, and the rise of authoritarian politics.
The competition between superpowers leads nations to pursue scientific and technological supremacy. Foreign powers are interested in the data, expertise, and technology of Finnish higher education institutions as well. This raises concerns of data ending up in the wrong hands and used for the wrong purposes, scientific espionage focusing on universities, and interference.
No paranoia or naïveté
“The threatening climate challenges the very core of scientific work: internationality, cooperation, and openness. In this situation, it is important for higher education institutions to retain balance”, says University of Helsinki Vice-Rector for Research and Sustainability Anne Portaankorva.
“We must not be paranoid, but also not naïve.”
Internationality is part of science. At the same time, we must consider how to avoid research data and results ending up in the wrong hands or inappropriate attempts to influence the university.
If we think about sharing genetic data with a company that has raised concerns globally, for example, have universities been too trusting?
“I don’t think we have been too trusting. Situations change, and when issues are noticed, they are addressed”, Portaankorva says.
According to Portaankorva, the university does not monitor the actions of individual researchers but tries to ensure everyone understands the global situation. This year, the University of Helsinki adopted a risk assessment tool for global activity that researchers can utilise in their projects.
Internationality is part of science. At the same time, we must consider how to avoid research data and results ending up in the wrong hands or inappropriate attempts to influence the university.
Anne Portaankorva, Vice-Rector for Research and Sustainability, University of Helsinki
“Everyone should consider who they conduct research with, what they research, how data is stored, and who has access to it.” These are very simple but significant issues – simple as concepts, but often difficult to perceive as a whole and significant because the effects can be widespread and severe.”
Portaankorva says highlighting safety must not lead to restricting academic freedom. This issue was emphasised last year with the science community’s outcry over a government bill regarding the Research Council of Finland. The law left out the statement that carrying out duties must not conflict with Finnish foreign and safety policy.
Higher education institutions as recon targets
Last year, the Tampere University made three investigation requests to the police regarding suspected violations of sanction regulations and dual-use technology export regulations.
In January 2025, reporter Outi Salovaara revealed case details in Helsingin Sanomat. As part of her book project, she had been investigating the “double life” of a Russian researcher. This researcher had built a career in Finland in 5G, 6G and other critical technology while simultaneously serving Russia with his research network.
“Critical technology” refers to technologies defined by the EU as crucial to financial safety, such as telecommunications networks. The development and use of these technologies is intended to be self-controlled and protected from external threats.
Right now, the world is interested in dual-use technologies, which can be utilised for both civilian and military purposes.
Supo, the Finnish Security and Intelligence Service, states that top-level research is conducted in Finland, making universities interesting targets for Chinese and Russian intelligence, for example. Dual-use technology carries the risk of ending up with authoritarian governments’ militaries or supporting a surveillance state.
Highlighting safety must not lead to restricting academic freedom.
Anne Portaankorva, Vice-Rector for Research and Sustainability, University of Helsinki
The Finnish Security and Intelligence Service’s job is to prevent foreign intelligence and influence in Finland, and they also offer their expertise to higher education institutions. According to Supo, authoritarian nations are prepared to use a wide variety of methods, and intelligence and influencing targeting Finland is long-lasting and constant.
Influencing attempts may also target non-technical fields. For example, a foreign nation funding academic teaching or research and being able to influence teaching and degree contents is not unproblematic.
According to Supo, influencing can be done using cover organisations such as science and technology associations. To the target, these actions can manifest as invitations to seminars in other countries, research funding, or investments.
Openness of basic research is important
“Attitudes and awareness have changed quite a bit”, says Professor of Applied Physics and quantum flagship leader Peter Liljeroth from the Aalto University.
“Five years ago, basically nobody talked about research safety. For example, a significant amount of measuring equipment used is under some sort of export control because the devices have dual-use capabilities.”
Quantum technology is considered among critical technologies by the EU. It utilises the quantum phenomena of particles, and its applications can quickly process massive amounts of data and perform previously impossible calculations.
According to Liljeroth, quantum research at the university is largely basic research. The results are available to everyone regardless, and funders also demand openness of science.
“In many quantum-related matters, applications are so far ahead that there is no need to consider them anytime soon. Industrial espionage is probably done, but it is not very significant. At the business level, industrial espionage is surely very different.”
When the Russia situation escalated, there was talk about how to respond to people coming from there to conduct research.
Anne Portaankorva, Vice-Rector for Research and Sustainability, University of Helsinki
The university tries to ensure research safety – background checks are performed on guest researchers and research infrastructures consider carefully who gets access permits.
“When the Russia situation escalated, there was talk about how to respond to people coming from there to conduct research. We considered if that was supporting a country waging war or rescuing people from an authoritarian system at the individual level.”
The university wants the best people, and no one is discriminated against based on nationality. On the other hand, no cooperation takes place with Russian institutions or certain other institutions, including their representatives.
According to Liljeroth, funding from the United States also carries its share of risks. For example, the funding agreement may contain intellectual property conditions if the US state or federal republic decides some technology is important to American interests.
“Risks must be assessed in a sensible manner, retaining freedom of research and international cooperation. In my opinion, our field at least has not crossed any lines one way or the other.”
No need to avoid “difficult” partners
Research funders are also interested in safety. For example, how is unwanted data transmission prevented in the projects they fund? Nowadays, all applications for Research Council of Finland funding must include a security assessment.
RCF Science Adviser Katrine Mahlamäki says that all fields involving large amounts of data, personal and confidential data should consider what information needs to be shared and who is given access to the systems. Data security is a separate issue, but often this is about cordially giving a partner information that perhaps should not be shared.
“For example, by combining data materials, one might gain information about people and their opinions that would be harmful in a different context.”
Mahlamäki emphasises that research safety specifically means defending freedom of science, not restricting it.
All fields involving large amounts of data, personal and confidential data should consider what information needs to be shared and who is given access to the systems
Katrine Mahlamäki, Science Adviser, RCF
“The goal is to protect researchers from foreign government influence. It is important to maintain dialogue but also consider how cooperation affects our researchers and ensure their research is not restricted by some authoritarian country.”
Due to the war, no projects with Russian or Belarusian research organisations are funded. Aside from this, the RCF does not determine anyone’s research partners. It is all about how the research is conducted.
Freedom of science has declined in many countries, and only a minority of the world’s nations are free democracies. Many potential research partners come from societies in which science is subject to political pressure and control.
Mahlamäki says the RCF does not want applicants to exclude “difficult partners” or focus on less sensitive subjects just in case. Academy wants to continue funding research of critical technologies and a variety of international projects, for example, as long as it is all done safely.
“My colleague from the UK said it well: research cooperation has very big risks, and those carry severe consequences should those risks come to pass. However, the benefits of cooperation are so significant that risks are worth taking.”
Politics and national interests guide the way
In October 2025, Finland was abuzz about the icebreaker sale to the United States. The deal worth millions of dollars is not merely a financial agreement, but it also includes state relations, security policy, and research.
Finland, the US, and Canada already signed the ICE Pact agreement for icebreaker cooperation in 2024, with the goal being research and development and sharing expertise and knowledge.
Early this year 2026, global political development suddenly turned completely unpredictable. Trump’s desire for Greenland and attacks on the rule-based world order cast a shadow on the future and may even put the icebreaker deal in a different light. Tomorrow or next week, the situation may once again be something completely different.
Senior Specialist on Higher Education and Science Policy Petri Koikkalainen from the Finnish embassy in Washington D.C. mentioned in an interview before Christmas that building icebreakers was an industry with geopolitical interests guiding its research and development. Whatever might happen in the near future, nations will try to protect their interests, facilitate and fund cooperation with like-minded partners, especially in fields critical to them.
“Various political agreements and concord documents may be more important than before when considering trusted countries. Dialogue at the political level may be emphasised in the kind of cooperation Finland is invited to.”
In the 1990s, an argument in favour of Finland joining the EU was getting a seat at the same tables as others. Koikkalainen reckons the importance of “a seat at the tables” may increase once more. Joining NATO has also brought research funding and projects to Finland.
Koikkalainen’s work at the embassy involves obtaining information on science and higher education policies, build contacts between universities and researchers, and foster mobility.
“Ever since I started at this job in the fall of 2021, the political importance of science and technology has grown. That is influenced by the superpower competition between the US and China and the war in Ukraine. In funding applications, bureaucracy is increased for researchers when security assessments are required.”
The Trump administration has caused turmoil in the research field, cancelled funding, and interfered in freedom of science. According to Koikkalainen, research cooperation with the United States is still very useful to Finland and something that we want to maintain. Late last year, he visited Helsinki and Espoo with an American delegation of researchers.
“There are currently many different realities in the US. Despite the challenges, plenty of research is still federally funded, applications are processed through peer review, and international cooperation has not been interrupted.”
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