CISPA and Professor Michael Backes mutually agree to part ways

Following the results of the special audit presented on September 22, 2026, Prof. Dr. Dr. h. c. mult. Michael Backes and CISPA have mutually agreed to part ways. Both sides have differing views on how the future of the internationally-oriented research center should be shaped. The shareholders thank founding director Michael Backes for successfully establishing CISPA as a globally renowned and outstanding Helmholtz research institution.