German science and industry organisations issue warning on academic freedom ahead of state elections

Twenty-three German science, academic and industrial organisations have published a joint declaration ahead of upcoming state elections, warning that academic freedom is increasingly under threat from anti-democratic forces. They argue this directly endangers the nation's democratic resilience, innovative capacity and economic foundation.

The declaration, published on 02/09/2026, warns that anti-scientific sentiments and ideological interference threaten the country’s global competitiveness and technological sovereignty. It adds that a highly competitive international landscape, combined with rising domestic hostility towards evidence-based science, has put Germany's future at a critical crossroads.

The core threat, they say, comes from ideological efforts to undermine public trust in…