The Society of Virology (GfV) and the undersigned specialist societies emphasise the central importance of the freedom of science as the foundation for innovation, progress and overcoming global health crises. We see this freedom increasingly under threat and are calling for stronger measures to protect it.
1. Academic freedom as a cornerstone of democracy
Freedom of research and teaching is an indispensable fundamental right that is protected by the respective constitutions in Germany, Austria and Switzerland and is essential for evidence-based decisions in politics, business and society. Academic freedom enables independent research, which is necessary to develop new technologies and sound solutions to global challenges such as pandemics or climate change. However, the Academic Freedom Index (AFI) 2025 (Kinzelbach et al. 2025) shows that academic freedom has declined significantly in many countries, including Germany and Austria, since 2014. This emphasises the need to actively defend this freedom.
2. Threats from anti-pluralism and political influence
According to the Academic Freedom Index (AFI) 2025, anti-pluralist parties represent a key threat to academic freedom worldwide (Kinzelbach et al. 2025). Tendencies to politicise and delegitimise academic discourse can also be observed in Germany - a development that we view with concern. Political influence and selective interpretations of research results jeopardise the independence of science. For example, since the end of the coronavirus pandemic, there has been an increasing distortion of scientific facts and chronological references in the public debate and by politicians. The neglect of scientific argumentation standards and the influence of politically motivated opinions have impaired the public's trust in scientific decision-making (GfV 2025a; ÖAW 2023).
3. Responsibility in safety-related research
Virology is caught between the poles of freedom of research and ethical responsibility, particularly in safety-relevant research and virological gain-of-function (GoF) research. The GfV is convinced that virological GoF research must be clearly regulated and strictly monitored, which is why it deals intensively and transparently with the risks of this research. The GfV has published a position paper that discusses both the social benefits and the risks of GoF research and describes the comprehensive regulatory measures in Germany, Austria and Switzerland (GfV 2025b).
4. International cooperation and collaboration
The undersigned professional societies emphasise the crucial importance of international cooperation and efficient networking of researchers worldwide for the development of new diagnostics, therapies and vaccines to combat cross-border risks of infection. The World Health Organisation (WHO) plays a key role as the central authority for international health coordination, creating global standards and framework conditions for evidence-based medical research by pooling knowledge and resources, whereby it relies on the cooperation of all member states. Restrictions on international exchange - due to political tensions, for example - significantly hinder this progress.
5. Appeal
The undersigned learned societies call for the active defence of academic freedom, the creation of stable framework conditions and the assurance that research can be carried out independently of ideological or purely economic interests. This requires solid financial structures for independent research and teaching as well as the promotion of international cooperation. In addition, researchers who publicly comment on research results or scientific theories must be protected from personal attacks in order to safeguard the freedom of the scientific system in the long term. Results from state-funded research must be made publicly accessible. They must not be censored or withheld by third parties.
Supporting professional associations (in alphabetical order)
German Society for Hygiene and Micrbiology (DGHM)
President: Prof. Dr. Martin Aepfelbacher, Hamburg
Contact: office@dghm.de
German Society for Infectiology (DGI)
Chairwoman: Prof. Dr. Maria Vehreschild, Frankfurt am Main
Contact: trommel@dgi-net.de
German Society for Tropical Medicine, Travel Medicine and Global Health (DTG)
Chairman: Dr. Dr. Carsten Köhler, Tübingen
Contact: dtg@bnitm.de
German Association for the Control of Viral Diseases (DVV)
Chairman: Prof. Dr. Helmut Fickenscher, Kiel
Contact: fickenscher@infmed.uni-kiel.de
German Association of Women in Infection Research - Infect-Net
Chairwoman: Prof. Dr. Gabriele Pradel, Aachen
Contact: info@infectnet.org
Society for Virology (GfV)
Chairman: Prof. Dr. Ulf Dittmer, Essen
Contact: geschaeftsstelle@g-f-v.org
PDF version of the statement [in German]:
References
- Katrin Kinzelbach, Staffan I. Lindberg, Lars Lott, Angelo Vito Panaro. 2025. Academic Freedom Index 2025 Update. FAU Erlangen-Nürnberg and V-Dem Institute. doi:10.25593/open-fau-1637, https://academic-freedom-index.net/research/Academic_Freedom_Index_Update_2025.pdf ; Abgerufen am 02.04.2025
- Gesellschaft für Virologie. 2025. Fünf Jahre COVID-19: Anmerkungen der Gesellschaft für Virologie zur Aufarbeitung der COVID-19 Pandemie in Deutschland, 27.03.2025; Redaktionell überarbeitete Fassung vom 20.05.2025 (GfV 2025a): https://g-f-v.org/fuenf-jahre-covid-19-anmerkungen-der-gesellschaft-fuer-virologie-zur-aufarbeitung-der-covid-19-pandemie-in-deutschland-redaktionell-ueberarbeitete-fassung/; Abgerufen am 20.05.2025
- Österreichische Akademie der Wissenschaften, Herausg. Alexander Bogner. 2023. Nach Corona. Reflexionen für zukünftige Krisen, Ergebnisse aus dem Corona-Aufarbeitungsprozess. https://doi.org/10.1553/978OEAW95696; Abgerufen am 28.04.2025
- Gesellschaft für Virologie. 2025. Sicherheitsrelevante Forschung in der Virologie, Positionspapier der Gesellschaft für Virologie e.V., 13.03.2025 (GfV 2025b): https://g-f-v.org/sicherheitsrelevante-forschung-in-der-virologie/; Abgerufen am 02.04.2025
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