De-bureaucratization of science: freedom or risk for the future?

De-bureaucratization of science: freedom or risk for the future?

In February 2025, the National Academy of Sciences Leopoldina published a discussion paper entitled "More freedom - less regulation. Proposals for de-bureaucratizing the science system". This paper takes a critical stance towards the current bureaucratization at universities and examines its effects on research and teaching.

The authors of the paper accuse universities of placing too much emphasis on equality, inclusion and diversity. In their opinion, these topics represent secondary purposes that increase the bureaucratic burden and thus hinder the actual core tasks of the scientific institutions. The Leopoldina proposes to abolish the officers for equality and diversity and instead hand responsibility for these issues to university management on a voluntary basis. However, critics warn that such measures could lead to a significant loss of protection, security and justice, which is considered worrying in the current social and political landscape.

A call for de-bureaucratization

The discussion paper calls for a return to the core tasks of scientific institutions and a reduction in reporting and control obligations. The authors argue that the autonomy of science is limited by excessive internal and external regulations. Greater personal responsibility should enable universities to critically question their internal processes and reduce unnecessary bureaucratic hurdles. The discussion paper also explains that the over-regulation of science has both internal and external causes, including societal expectations of universities.

However, the need to address the issues of equality and diversity remains controversial. Scientific studies show that diversity promotes significant advances in research and has a positive impact on the humanities and social sciences. These perspectives ensure a deeper examination of modern challenges, especially in interdisciplinary research areas.

The role of bureaucracy

Bureaucracy is often perceived negatively, but it does have positive aspects that are often overlooked in public debate. It ensures fairness, transparency and protects against arbitrariness. A democratic constitutional state requires a certain bureaucratic structure to secure rights and ensure equal opportunities. The reduction of bureaucracy cannot therefore take place without risking protection and security.

The discussion paper is the result of intensive work by the “Culture of Responsibility Instead of Overregulation” working group, which includes experts from the legal, social and administrative sciences as well as the German academic community. The speakers of the working group, Prof. Dr. Gerald Haug and Prof. Dr. Thomas Krieg, held a workshop on the topic of “overregulation of science” on June 7, 2024 to take a closer look at the causes and consequences of increasing bureaucratization.

Overall, the paper stands as a witness to a growing debate about the balance between necessary regulations and the freedom that science and research need to continue making progress.

For detailed information on the proposals and their effects, we refer to the comprehensive information provided by RUB and the analytical insights of Leopoldina.