Freedom of Research

This year’s recipient of the Charlemagne Prize, Mario Draghi, has emphatically argued that Europe must strengthen its competitiveness and economic resilience in an increasingly contested global environment. Achieving this goal requires not only investment but also institutions that foster talent, innovation, and the free exchange of knowledge. Academic freedom constitutes a fundamental prerequisite in this regard. It provides the foundation for critical thinking, intellectual diversity, international scholarly cooperation, and open democratic discourse. A resilient research landscape and Europe’s long-term capacity for innovation are difficult to imagine without academic freedom.

Yet academic freedom is currently facing significant challenges. The Academic Freedom Index clearly demonstrates that academic freedom is not only a core value of liberal democracies but is increasingly being targeted from multiple directions. Even in the United States, often regarded as the birthplace and historical driving force of modern democracy, substantial restrictions on academic freedom have emerged in recent years.

Challenges can also be observed in Europe. The so-called governmental programme of the Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) in Saxony-Anhalt provides a striking example of the strategies and tactics employed to limit academic freedom. Over time, a recognizable repertoire of approaches has developed among far-right political actors. Paradoxically, such initiatives are often framed as efforts to restore science to its proper role – yet through political intervention, resulting in varying degrees of restrictions on academic freedom. This is precisely where the present module intervenes.

The course “Freedom of Reserach  – a European Summit” is structured in three parts.

Part I: Workshop on Academic Freedom and Democracy

The first workshop explores the distinctive nature of academic freedom as a fundamental right in liberal democracies. This perspective highlights academic freedom – and its promotion or restriction – as a particularly sensitive indicator of the state of democracy. Participants will engage in intensive discussions on strategies for strengthening academic freedom, democracy, and European cooperation.

Part II: Participation in the Freedom of Research Summit

Students will have the opportunity to participate in the Freedom of Research Summit, which addresses the theme “Academic Freedom, Innovation & Democratic Resilience.” The summit examines the political and institutional conditions necessary for fostering an academically open and internationally competitive Europe.

The public component of the summit, consisting of a symposium and evening event on 5 November 2026, is jointly organized by the Charlemagne Prize Foundation, the Knowledge Hub, and the Käte Hamburger Kolleg: Cultures of Research (c:o/re) at RWTH Aachen University. The programme will feature lectures and interactive formats with distinguished international scholars and practitioners. Detailed programme information will be announced through the Leonardo Programme upon publication.

Part III: Reflection Workshop

In a concluding reflection workshop, participants will discuss current and future challenges to academic freedom and explore potential political and institutional strategies for safeguarding freedom of research.

Important: The course language is English.