Critique of Growing Military Industry Ties in Valencian Universities

• Valencian universities and research institutions are facing criticism for increasingly aligning with military and defense industries.
• Critics argue that the narrative of "dual-use technology" is being used to normalize the integration of warfare, surveillance, and repression technologies into academic research.
• Concerns are rising regarding the ethical implications of collaborations with major global defense contractors, such as Lockheed Martin, amidst reports of their involvement in humanitarian crises.

The Shift Toward Militarization

• Advancements in photonics, electronics, and 6G communication are being leveraged for military applications like satellites, aircraft, and radar systems.
• While some researchers justify this path due to the availability of massive defense-related funding, opponents warn that this prioritization of military agendas undermines the university's public and civic mission.
• Regional organizations like REDIT Defensa are actively promoting rearmament projects, creating an environment where dissent or conscientious objection by researchers may be sidelined.

Ethical and Legal Risks

• Collaborations with Lockheed Martin are particularly contentious, as the company manufactures the F-35 fighter jets used in conflicts. UN reports and international bodies have scrutinized the company's role in supplying systems used in Gaza, raising concerns about institutional complicity in human rights violations.
• Strict security protocols required for defense contracts, such as bans on personal devices during meetings and oversight by national intelligence agencies, threaten the open and transparent nature of academic inquiry.

The Call for a Civic-Centered Academic Agenda

• Critics emphasize that universities should be addressing pressing social issues like housing access, economic inequality, and environmental collapse rather than focusing on military technology.
• The academic community is being urged to reclaim its "fourth mission"—the civic mission—by refusing to contribute to military-industrial growth and by publicly advocating for peace, human rights, and social justice.