Arms Trade Report criticises York for taking on 59 Military Projects
Chall 21 tankThe University of York has received just under £8m in funding from British arms companies, according to a recent report. The report, entitled ‘Study War No More’, was produced in 2007 by Campaign Against The Arms Trade (CAAT) and the Fellowship of Reconciliation (FoR), and details the funding of military research and development projects at 26 UK universities between 2001-06.
The report claims York accepted over £7.7m for carrying out 59 military projects based primarily at the Computer Science and Electronics departments. The money provided by research comes from BAE systems, QineitQ and EPSRC - all of which are involved in weapons production.
Symon Hill, a spokesperson for CAAT, said: “it is appalling that the University of York allows arms companies this level of influence into what should be an independent academic establishment.” He said he believed “[York] students and staff will be horrified to discover the level of military involvement at UK universities.” David Garner, a spokesman for the University, rejected Hill’s assertion saying “We do not accept the assumption that any contact with the defence sector is reproachable. The University’s research in conjunction with defence companies or government departments does not involve weapons.” Garner went on to defend the University’s academic autonomy saying “Our research grants in this area operate in exactly the same way as any other research agreement- with academic independence and authority guaranteed. No research funder has ‘influence’ in the University in the way that Symon Hill implies.”
Garner also said the University did not believe an issue existed on ethical grounds saying: “Research at York in this area includes safety critical aircraft computer systems to make sure that planes are unlikely to crash - systems that are used in civilian aircraft. Other research looks at radio communication systems and computer security. There is nothing reprehensible about this research. On the contrary, it is extremely beneficial to society. It is patent nonsense to suggest that there is any inappropriate military influence in this University.” Garner said that the University was not currently carrying out any weapons research.
York People & Planet Chair Robyn Heather said: “Even if the research does not directly contribute to the creation of actual weaponry, it is still irresponsible for an influential university to be affiliated with arms companies such as these, who do develop weapons.”
The report showed that the University of York conducted 59 separate projects funded by arms companies, ranking 13th out of the 26 institutions covered in the study in terms of the number of projects. The University also participated in the Ministry of Defence’s (MoD) Defence Technology Centres project in 2004. The project was entitled “Systems Engineering for Autonomous Systems” (SEAS-DTC) and was conducted in conjunction with 11 other British universities including UCL, St Andrew’s and Bristol.
According to the report, “Defence Technology Centres were introduced by the Ministry of Defence in 2002 so that military, industry and universities can collaborate closely in the developing new military technology”. The MoD claims to utilise the centres in order to produce “innovative, cutting edge research for enhanced UK defence capability.” The centres are jointly funded by the MoD and private arms companies, in the case of the SEAS-DTC project including BAE systems, MBDA missile systems and Rolls Royce.
YUSU President Anne-Marie Canning said: “Research investments are a growing area within the University. Investments are judged on an ethical basis by a mixture of academics and student reps at departemntal ethics committees. If students are concerned about such issues they can submit a motion to our next UGM and I will lobby upon their behalf.”
The University of Cambridge conducted 283 projects from 2001 to 2006 making it the institution with the largest number of arms company projects in the UK. Below Cambridge ranks Loughborough with 126 followed by Oxford with 124. York ranks 13 of the 26 in terms of numbers of projects accepted.
Cranfield University received the most money from arms companies with a minimum amount received for research projects amounting to just under £383m. It is followed by the Southampton which received a minimum of £43.2m. York ranks 14 in terms of research money accepted.
Briefing: York and the Arms Trade
OCTOBER 2005
A Nouse investigation discovered that the University held 115,000 direct shares in BAE Systems in addition to shares held through investment funds which are managed externally. The University Payroll and Pensions Manager, Bill Hemmingway, admitted that there were problems with the current situation and that the ethical investment policy had left the “trustees in a catch 22 situation”. “They [the University trustees] felt that their first duty was to the Scheme members and they would not be fulfiling their duties if they did not secure the best investment possible for the fund.
MAY 2006
Student activists staged a ‘die-in’ occupation of Heslingon Hall as part of a campus wide ‘No Share in Killing Day’ to protest against the University’s investment in arms companies. The University agreed to develop a more stringent ethical policy as a result.
NOVEMBER 2006
Members of York Amnesty International and FreeSoc dressed in white boiler suits (pictured) and occupied the lobby of Heslington Hall in protest against the presence of representatives from the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (DSTL) who were giving a presentation. The students aimed to disrupt the presentation by DSTL, which produces a range of aerial, naval and land-based weaponry.
MAY 2007
Nouse uncovered evidence that the University holds indirect shares in Petrochina, a major Chinese oil firm which is thought to have links to the Sudanese government. A number of insitutions, including Harvard University had sold their shares for ethical reasons. The investigation also discovered the University still held 147,100 shares in the arms company BAE Systems. Between May 2006 and May 2007, the University benefited from a £25,448 increase in value of its shares in BAE Systems, bringing their value to a total of £644,371.
Company Profiles:
BAE Systems - 439 university projects
It is thought that 80% of BAE’s products are exported abroad, where it seeks new markets experiencing military build-ups or recently discontined from arms embargoes. The company was thrust into the media spotlight in 2006 after the Serious Fraud Office began investigating charges of corruption related to a BAE deal with Saudi regime. In December of that year Attorney General Lord Goldsmith ordered a halt to the investigation, citing “national security” reasons.
Rolls-Royce - 495 university projects
Rolls-Royce is the world’s second largest manufacturer of turbine engines, used from military transport aircraft and helicopters to combat, tactical aircraft and unmanned air vehicle. It is currently the world’s 16th largest defence contractor. University of York Vice-Chancellor Brian Cantor worked for the company in a consultant role before coming entering academia full time.
QinetiQ - 394 university projects
QuinetiQ is a leading international defence and security technology company. It acts as the leading supplier of defence research to the British government which provides half its turnover. It also provides technological and security solutions to clients from both the civil and public sectors. The government recently sold a majority stake in the firm to a US private equity firm.
Alistair
“Rolls-Royce is the world’s second largest manufacturer of turbine engines, used from military transport aircraft and helicopters to combat, tactical aircraft and unmanned air vehicle.”
um, no mention of the enormous number of RR engines in practically every passenger plane then…
Anonymous
I am quite happy with the involvement of BAE systems and others. If it gets the university badly needed money for the procurement of resources for our study, then I really don’t see the problem. The research that is being carried out is not necessarily something which would be implemented in a weapons capacity anyway…people complain too much.