Pillars of Freedom: Safeguarding Knowledge and Building Institutional Resilience

Brussels, Belgium | 11 June 2026

Photo source: Science|Business

IAU Secretary General Hilligje van’t Land participated in the Science|Business closed-door roundtable "Pillars of Freedom: Safeguarding knowledge, building institutional resilience" in Brussels. The hybrid event, co-organized with Elsevier and the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA), gathered leaders to address pressing challenges to academic freedom and institutional resilience in Europe.

Under Chatham House rules, participants explored the roles of libraries and publishers as guardians of knowledge, the impact of digital technologies on academic freedoms, and the contribution of social sciences and humanities to debates on trust, democracy, and values. The discussion aligned with the European Innovation Act and the European Research Area Act, which seek to enshrine scientific freedom, ethics, and integrity as fundamental values across the European Research Area.

The roundtable underscored that academic freedom—essential for quality research and higher education—faces growing threats, including political interference, funding constraints, and institutional pressures. Participants emphasized the need for enforceable frameworks, non-earmarked funding to support curiosity-driven research, and stronger advocacy to protect this cornerstone of academia. The event concluded with calls for universities to enhance communication, break out of echo chambers, and collaborate across sectors to defend academic freedom and promote open science.