The potential risks involved in international research cooperation projects funded by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG, German Research Foundation) shall henceforth be subjected to a more thorough and systematic reflection. To this end, the largest research funding organisation and central self-governing organisation for science and the humanities in Germany has put forward recommendations that have recently been approved by its Joint Committee. These recommendations, which apply particularly to the cooperation with researchers in authoritarian countries, aim to enable researchers to realistically assess the risks of misuse of research results, on the basis of which carefully balanced decisions can be reached. While primarily aimed at individual and institutional applicants, the recommendations can also be drawn on in the DFG’s review and decision-making process.