ROME (ITALPRESS) – A national action plan to protect Italian universities and research from foreign interference. It was presented at a press conference by the Minister of University and Research, Anna Maria Bernini, the Undersecretary to the Presidency of the Council, Alfredo Mantovano, the president of the CRUI (Conference of Italian University Rectors), Giovanna Iannantuoni, and the president of CONPER (National Council of Presidents of Research Institutions), Antonio Zoccoli. “Italy is among the nations most exposed to these phenomena because it produces the most innovation,” Mantovano explained. “There is a protection vacuum and this protection vacuum also exists in the perception of researchers. It is not easy to intervene, there is always a very complicated balance to achieve, the international openness that distinguishes the world of research, represents one of the vulnerabilities of this sector, there is an effort, not only Italian, but also European and international, for the contrast to a new challenge that concerns security.”Undersecretary Mantovano clarified that “the initiative does not aim at forms of control of research nor does it intend to limit internationalization but aims to defend scientific activity, the only purpose is to advance knowledge without being exploited by others who can then damage our country, the phenomenon is under intelligence observation. We are among the greatest producers of ideas, and our ideas must be protected. “An intervention, as has been pointed out, that is framed in precise communications from a conunitarian source: “Whatever the government, the majority, it is an intervention that also intersects with commitments made in the European Union. Recommendations that call on member states to strengthen security, we are moving in fulfillment of a European obligation, some nations came first than us, for example France,” he concluded.There is an urgency to give answers to protect research activities and projects, to ensure security by preventing intrusions.”We need a system of protection of academic and scientific research in our country, a democratic, inclusive, ethical, free research that must be safe,” Minister Bernini’s words. “On research the prerequisite is freedom that starts from internationalization. All this must take place in the security of the intellectual product of researchers and this requires antibodies: the first is awareness. The more technologies develop, the more we have to find antibodies. “The university minister anticipated, “We will have a G7 in Bari on the security of research, we have to make research secure. “For Iannantuoni, “this is a very sensitive topic, the autonomy of research is a constitutional value, the independence and work of researchers must be protected.”
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(ITALPRESS).
