Cybersecurity has emerged as a defining challenge for research governance. In Germany, universities and public research institutes operate within a highly open, internationally connected scientific ecosystem that amplifies both innovation and vulnerability. This policy paper examines cybersecurity governance in German research institutions through a science policy lens, focusing on the interplay between academic openness and institutional protection.

The project “RESONARE – Risiko- und Eskalationspotenziale von Informationsmanipulation: Narrative, Akteure und Rezeption” examines the impact of disinformation on society. Together with the Hasso Plattner Institute, Ubermetrics, and the The State Office of Criminal Investigation of Lower Saxony (LKA Niedersachsen), we are investigating the methods used by the actors behind information manipulation, their goals, and the effects of their actions.

The new BIGS Standpunkt "Strategies against the spread of disinformation in Germany – for all generations" outlines the disinformation landscape in Germany and identifies particularly affected groups, common topics, and dissemination channels. The goal is to obtain an overview of the measures available to combat disinformation in Germany and to assess where there is still room for improvement, with a particular focus on older adults. Based on this, the study provides recommendations for action for policymakers and civil society actors.