Criticism mounts over Valencia Polytechnic University joining defense industry cluster

• The Universitat Politècnica de València (UPV) has officially joined the defense industry cluster CIDCV, known as APOLO, following a government council vote.
• The University Network for Palestine (RUxP) has condemned the move, citing the cluster's inclusion of companies that manufacture ammunition and combat system components.
• UPV rector José Esteban Capilla faces allegations of hypocrisy, having been awarded a military merit medal for promoting "defense culture" shortly after publicly advocating for a "culture of peace."

The APOLO Cluster

• Established in February 2026, the association aims to advance defense sector participation in European military programs.
• Member company Factor Defence produces components for artillery and munitions, including mortar rounds, grenades, and 155mm artillery shells, with a reported production capacity of one million units annually.

Internal Contradictions

• In September 2025, Rector Capilla emphasized the university's duty to promote a culture of peace, specifically regarding the Gaza conflict.
• By June 2026, he accepted the Cross of Military Merit with White Distinction from the Ministry of Defense, which recognized his efforts in strengthening cooperation between the university and the defense sector.

Impact on Palestinian Solidarity Commitments

• The move is viewed as undermining the university's June 2024 pledges, which included suspending partnerships with Israeli academic institutions that fail to condemn human rights violations.
• RUxP representatives argue that joining a platform focused on the defense industry contradicts the university's stated commitment to international humanitarian law.
• Critics are calling for greater institutional transparency, specifically regarding future research projects, the allocation of public funds toward military-linked collaborations, and the implementation of ethical oversight.