EU pushes ahead with plan to use research funding for military innovation

Dutch scientists know Horizon Europe as a gigantic pot of money from which they benefit disproportionately. The EU distributed 95 billion euros annually, from which Dutch universities such as those in Utrecht, Delft, Leiden, and Twente receive tens of millions of euros.

However, European lawmakers stipulated in the past that this money cannot be used for defence-related research. Studies whose results could ultimately be used for military purposes (dual use) are not eligible for support from the Horizon programme, either.

Companies
The European Commission wants to change this. It proposed last year to make an exception for research and development of dual-use technology by small and medium-sized companies, as part of the European rearmament programme. The companies would be funded through the EIC Accelerator programme, which is part of Horizon.

Universities are not thrilled with these plans. Many reacted by questioning how academic freedom would be affected by this or wondering if scientists would still be able to collaborate with researchers from other countries if the study also had a military purpose.

Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam has endorsed a critical letter from Flemish universities, which fear that this will “normalise” defence research. Moreover, universities fear that this will shift the focus from fundamental to applied research.

No definition
How can scientists predict whether their research results will be used by the military? There is still no proper definition of 'dual use', according to objections to the plan raised by several universities, including the technical universities of Delft and Eindhoven.

The European Commission also acknowledges that the distinction between civilian and military research is particularly complex, which is why it does not draw a sharp line between civilian and military research: civilian research must also be usable for military purposes, and military research can also have civilian applications. The Commission hopes to see more “cross-pollination” between the two.

These companies can collaborate with scientists from universities and other research institutions. The Dutch advisory council AWTI suggested something similar last year: now that so much additional funds is going to defence while universities are having to tighten their belts, scientists could perhaps reap some of the benefits.

Doubts
The Ministry of Defence is in favour of the idea, but scientists have their doubts about such cooperation, according to a survey conducted by the Erasmus University magazine last year. Should they get involved with the army at a time when cooperation between universities and the Israeli army is under scrutiny? Or should they help defend “Western values” by devising military applications for their field of expertise?

It is still unclear whether the European Commission proposal will be approved. IIntensive negotiations are currently underway in Brussels on a new multi-year budget. The discussion on dual use is also likely to come up in those talks.