Knowledge Security Committee
The Knowledge Security Committee plays a central role in the decision-making and organisation relating to knowledge security within the university. Internationally oriented collaboration initiatives can be submitted to this committee (via the Knowledge Security Advice Desk) with a request to assess them.
What is the Knowledge Security Committee?
The Knowledge Security Committee plays a central role in the decision-making and organisation relating to knowledge security within the university. The committee has started its work on 1 March 2025.
Internationally oriented collaboration initiatives can be submitted to this committee (via the Knowledge Security Advice Desk) with a request to assess them. This request will be made by the initiators of a collaboration and the scientific director of the relevant institute. Before doing this, the initiators will have first made their own assessment of the opportunities (interests) and risks. In case of doubt about whether the risks are acceptable, they are obliged to submit a request for assessment to the committee.
Want to know more?
See chapters 5 and 6 of the Knowledge Security Policy Framework. The university has also established Regulations on Knowledge Security, setting out the structure and organisation of the committee. The Knowledge Security Committee consists of members of the Knowledge Security Advice Desk and experts in areas such as human rights, countries and sensitive technology.
What does the Knowledge Security Committee do?
The Knowledge Security Committee will issue a binding decision within four weeks. If external advice is sought – for example, from additional experts or the national Contact Point Knowledge Security – a period of six weeks applies.
Depending on the Committee’s decision, the collaboration will start (the risk is acceptable), will be postponed (more information is required), will start but with risk-mitigation measures or will not start (the risk is unacceptable). If the committee decides the risks are unacceptable and the initiative may not be launched, the initiator may lodge an objection with the faculty board (within four weeks).
See an infographic of the knowledge security process from the first considerations to the binding decision.
Who are the members of the Knowledge Security Committee?
The committee comprises academics from Leiden University who have relevant expertise on, for example, particular countries, human rights or sensitive technology. The committee is chaired by Professor Joanne van der Leun.
Committee meetings consist of at least two academics, a member of the Knowledge Security Advice Desk, the knowledge security coordinator, the secretary and the chairperson.
Sometimes, additional expertise is needed. In that case, an expert – for example, a legal expert or another specialist – will be consulted to advise on the matter at hand.
What are the meeting dates of the Knowledge Security Committee?
2025
Thursday, October 30, 2025 (submit by October 16)
Tuesday, November 11, 2025 (submit by October 28)
Thursday, November 27, 2025 (submit by November 13)
Tuesday, December 16, 2025 (submit by December 2)
2026
Tuesday, January 13, 2026 (submit by December 30)
Thursday, January 29, 2026 (submit by January 15)
Thursday, February 12, 2026 (submit by January 29)
Tuesday, February 24, 2026 (submit by February 10)
Thursday, March 12, 2026 (submit by February 26)
Tuesday, March 24, 2026 (submit by March 10)
Thursday, April 9, 2026 (submit by March 26)
Tuesday, April 21, 2026 (submit by April 7)
Tuesday, May 12, 2026 (submit by April 28)
Tuesday, June 2, 2026 (submit by May 19)
Thursday, June 18, 2026 (submit by June 4)
Tuesday, June 30, 2026 (submit by June 16)
Tuesday, July 14, 2026 (submit by June 30)