THE dangers of increased links between universities and arms companies has been exposed in a new report.

The Campaign Against Arms Trade (CAAT) and Demilitarise Education study, released today, reveals that privatisation, the academic funding crisis and the commercialisation of universities have led to increasing ties between the military, arms companies and academia with billions of pounds’ worth of investment.

It shows that the military relies on academic expertise to develop military and dual-use technologies.

The report also highlights how academic research is being used to greenwash the arms industry.

Through academic investment in “supposed green technologies to dominate the battlefield whilst limiting harm to the environment, universities are furthering a perception of the arms industry as legitimate partners and a source of ‘sustainable investment’,” the report says.

Universities are being used to normalise war where the “quest for military dominance, arms as a means to security as well as preparation for war are all taken for granted and treated as a given.”

The report sets out alternative models and includes recommendations for governments and civil society, universities, faculty and students.

CAAT’s Emily Apple said the report “exposes the huge level of investment universities receive from the arms industry.”

She said: “These ties between academia and this trade in death and destruction must be severed.

“Instead of greenwashing weapons manufacturers, universities should be investing in research that actually helps us tackle the climate crisis we are all facing.”

Demilitarise Education co-founder and executive director Jinsella, who only goes by one name, said: “Universities capacity should support international peace building rather than self-destructive military persuasion.”