About us
Understanding Emerging Technologies – Strengthening Arms Control
The CNTR research and transfer cluster explores new military-relevant technologies and developments in the natural sciences from an interdisciplinary perspective. Our team of researchers from different disciplines investigates impacts on international security, classifies them in a scientifically sound manner and, on this basis, develops recommendations for action to strengthen arms control.
We are scientifically independent. We determine our research topics ourselves. We are committed to handling our research results responsibly. This is why we follow the recommendations for handling security-relevant research laid out by the German Research Foundation (DFG) and the National Academy of Sciences Leopoldina in our research, in addition to PRIF’s Ethics Guideline.
CNTR is a joint project between:
- Peace Research Institute Frankfurt (PRIF)
- Justus Liebig University Giessen (JLU Giessen)
- Technical University of Darmstadt (TU Darmstadt)
CNTR research is conducted in three interdisciplinary research groups.
The project has received funding from the German Federal Foreign Office for a period of four years (January 2023 to December 2026).
The transfer of research results into politics and society is one of CNTR’s central tasks. In target group-oriented exchange formats, we engage in dialogue with stakeholders in order to identify relevant topics and needs from politics, administration, academia and civil society.
The core product is the annual CNTR Monitor, which will be published for the first time in 2024. The monitor will compile findings and recommendations on arms technology innovations and trends. Scientific expertise is thus presented to decision-makers in a manner geared to the target group and its demands.
CNTR's Fact Sheet series offers short-format publications with facts and figures as well as short explanations on CNTR’s research topics.
CNTR publications are published in open access and are thus also made available to the media and the general public.
CNTR integrates technical and scientific findings and expertise into the discourse of peace and conflict research. Researchers from the natural and social sciences work closely together in three interdisciplinary and inter-institutional research groups, in line with the Recommendations for the further development of peace and conflict research by the German Science and Humanities Council (WR) formulated in 2019.
In addition, CNTR contributes to the structural strengthening of scientific and technical peace research by establishing a professorship for Peace Research in Natural Sciences in the Department of Physics at the Technical University of Darmstadt. Prof. Dr. Malte Göttsche holds the professorship since June 2024. Together with Prof. Dr. Christopher Daase, he is the speaker of the research and transfer cluster.
Our team
Laura Bannan-Fischer is a Knowledge Transfer Officer at PRIF's Berlin office. She has a Master's degree in International Studies/Peace and Conflict Studies.
- PRIF (Berlin Office)
- bannan-fischer(at)prif.org
- Go to website
- @laura_ban_fis
Prof. Dr. Christopher Daase is Deputy Director at PRIF and Head of PRIF’s “International Security” research department. His research focuses on security policy, international institutions and political violence.
Prof. Dr. Malte Göttsche is Professor for Peace Research in Natural Sciences at TU Darmstadt and Head of the CNTR research group “Science for Nuclear Diplomacy”. He is interested in nuclear nonproliferation, arms control and disarmament. His particular focus is the development of new verification methods and technologies.
- PRIF/TU Darmstadt
- malte.goettsche(at)prif.org
- Go to website
- @M_Goettsche
Dr. Una Jakob is a Senior Researcher and Head of Research Group at PRIF's “International Security” research department. Her research focuses on the non-proliferation and disarmament of chemical and biological weapons as well as on biosecurity issues.
Frank Kuhn is the Project Coordinator for the Cluster for Natural and Technical Science Arms Control Research (CNTR) at PRIF. His research interests include nuclear deterrence, arms control and non-proliferation, as well as military technology and strategy.
Prof. Dr. Thilo Marauhn is Extraordinary Professor of International Arms Control Law at the Asser Institute, The Hague, Senior Researcher and Head of the research group “Public International Law” at PRIF. His research focuses on Public International Law as well as on International Arms Control Law.
Lukas Rademacher is a doctoral researcher with CNTR's research group “Science for Nuclear Diplomacy” at PRIF. He is researching novel verification methods for nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament, with a focus on nuclear archaeology.
Dr. Thomas Reinhold is a researcher at the CNTR research group “Emerging Disruptive Technologies” at PRIF and at the Chair of Science and Technology for Peace and Security (PEASEC) in the Department of Computer Science at TU Darmstadt. He works on the societal impact of technology and the challenges of interaction between humans and computer systems.
Dr. Kadri Reis is a researcher at the CNTR research group “Chemical and Biological Weapons Control” at PRIF. Her research focuses on the nonproliferation and disarmament of chemical and biological weapons as well as on biosecurity issues.
Prof. Dr. Dr. Christian Reuter is Full Professor and Dean of the Department of Computer Science at Technical University of Darmstadt. His Science and Technology for Peace and Security (PEASEC) chair combines computer science with peace and security research. At the intersection of the disciplines (A) Cyber Security and Privacy, (B) Peace and Conflict Studies as well as (C) Human-Computer Interaction, he and his team specifically address (1) Peace Informatics and Technical Peace Research, (2) Crisis Informatics and Information Warfare as well as (3) Usable Safety, Security and Privacy.
Dr. Niklas Schörnig is a Senior Researcher and Head of Research Group at PRIF's “International Security” research department. His research focuses on emerging military technology, the future of warfare, and arms control.
Prof. Dr. Peter R. Schreiner is University Professor, Liebig Chair, Project Director and Managing Director of the Institute of Organic Chemistry at the Justus Liebig University Giessen. His research focuses on Organocatalysis, Nanodiamonds, Reactive Intermediates, Computational Chemistry, Tunneling Studies and Dispersion.
- Justus Liebig University Giessen
- prs(at)org.chemie.uni-giessen.de
- Go to website
- @prsgroupjlu
Lisa Suckau is a researcher at the CNTR research group “Emerging Disruptive Technologies” at PRIF. Her research focuses on the assessment of risks and opportunities of emerging disruptive technologies and their implications for security policies and strategy.
Fabian Unruh is a doctoral researcher with CNTR's research group “Science for Nuclear Diplomacy” at PRIF. He is interested in novel verification methods for nuclear arms control and disarmament agreements.
Elisabeth Waczek is a Knowledge Transfer Officer at CNTR and officer at PRIF's Press and Public Relations Department. She has a Master's degree in Philosophy.
- PRIF (Frankfurt)
- waczek(at)prif.org
- Go to website
- https://mastodon.social/@erzsewa
- Solveig Albrecht | Knowledge Transfer Frankfurt
- Abdullah Kasim Korkusuz | Research Group Emerging Disruptive Technologies
- Kristin Lang | Knowledge Transfer Berlin
- Louise Lüdke | Research Group Biological and Chemical Weapons Control
- PRIF
Contact
Team
Frank Kuhn
Project Coordinator
