Experts: Threat of espionage growing in German business and research

German companies and research institutions must become more cautious in the face of growing espionage threats, especially from Russia and China, said government and security experts in Berlin on Thursday.

"Authoritarian regimes use liberal freedoms to spread their influence," warned Sinan Selen, vice-president of the German domestic intelligence agency, the Office for the Protection of the Constitution.

The agency was meeting together with the Alliance for Security in Business for the event themed "A World in Turmoil - Challenges for our Supply Chains, Research & Critical Infrastructure."

In addition to classic espionage, the methods used by authoritarian regimes included deploying researchers on behalf of the state, recruiting German scientists and launching cyber attack campaigns, said Selen.

The sectors most at risk are aerospace, biotechnology, industrial robotics, communications technology and mechanical engineering.

In order to better protect Germany as a business location, he said, it is important for the intelligence agencies and companies to exchange information on current threats internally in a spirit of trust.

"There is little point in keeping threat scenarios the other has already been confronted with to themselves," said Selen.

Christian Mölling of the German Council on Foreign Relations said it was important to think now not only about the consequences of Russia's war on Ukraine, but to consider the risks posed by a possible conflict in Asia.

He added that with regard to the security of supply chains, German companies must also realize: "Yes, we have enemies. These are states that do not accept "the way we live."