Espionage in Research - Danger Exists at a High Level

Research institutions in Hesse are targeted by foreign intelligence services for espionage, particularly in areas such as energy savings, electromobility, information and communication technologies, automation, robotics, power plants, and biomedicine. These intelligence services employ tactics such as using guest students, guest researchers, and state-controlled cyber attacks to gain access to research results and close knowledge gaps.

However, the scientific community is not sufficiently aware of the danger posed by espionage in their field. The high level of risk is due to Hesse's significant role in science and research.

The state-controlled attackers have ample resources and operate in a strategic and long-term manner. The Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution warns of the threat of scientific espionage in an information bulletin.