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A freelance scientific consultancy which works to broaden the public accountability of science, technology & medicine and its products
The situation in the UK during the past 20 years. Comparisons made with other EU countries & the USA. First broad-based study of the UK situation
Primary focus - research & development but also other areas within SET across public institutions
Literature-based survey of the military sector involvement with SET - research, teaching and PR. Some interviews & discussions also undertaken. Web material also used
The military is: government departments, corporations and others!
Histories over the last two decades of the three major players:
the universities
the military industry
the government - various departments
The socioeconomic backdrop against which these three players interact
The products of the interplay:
partnerships & other collaborations
the military presence & its impact on research & funding culture
the military agenda & broadly defined security concerns
SET & its research landscape
Where in SET is the military sector to be found? Locations described in the Report.
What role does the military play in the UK & its impact on SET in practical and ethical ways? IPR, openness & lock-in.
What return does the taxpayer obtain for military funding of R&D? Spin-out and spin-in.
How well does the military serve security needs? Contrast between narrow power-based version and more inclusive security needs for the world.
What role does technology serve in security debates?
The scale of the military machine
Global military burden is currently US$1trillion.
In the EU military R&D budgets are largely represented by small number of nations:
In 2000 these 4 countries represented 97% of the total EU countries' defence budget (almost 9 billion Euros)
The UK spends 30% of all government R&D on military objectives
In the UK the military industry has a yearly turnover of over £15 billion
Major national and international military corporations are found in USA, UK & France
The USA spends more than 50% of its total government R&D budget on military objectives - US$74.8 billion in 2006
75% of the increase in US government R&D spending in the period 2001 to 2005 is attributable to 'defence'
The US 2004-9 Defence Plan budget will increase by around $40 billion dollars yearly to well over US$400 billion per year
Post September 11th vast increase in funding of research into areas of military interest such as bioterrorism, bioengineering, nanotechnology and surveillance - coupled with cuts in fundamental research.
Homeland security has a weapons-based portfolio
What the USA does impacts on research process and open nature of science across the world
Ministry of Defence puts almost £3 billion into SET R&D per year - contrast with many non-military SET areas
Military corporations in the UK add a further £100 million into SET R&D
There are additional non-research funding by the military - corporations plus the MoD, DTI and the FO - education, PR, and image creation
Military spending in UK is ahead of all areas save health, social services and education. Research areas which do not have military interest are often the orphans
In the last 3 years new consortia announced comprising universities, military corporations & government departments
Military corporations include the largest commercial enterprises on the planet - Boeing in 2002 had revenues of $54 billion - BAE Systems has yearly sales in 130 countries to the tune of more than £12 billion
The 'War on Terrorism' has seen military corporations' profits rise steadily
Military funds = weapons-based objectives in context of commercialisation of universities & the research process
During the last 15 years: military corporations are now in: government, local agencies, universities & lobby via special interest groups
Military research interests now found across SET especially the physical & engineering sciences
A consolidation of military funding of SET within universities in consortia:
Defence & Aerospace Research Partnerships - comprises 10 active groups at present
Towers of Excellence - currently 5
Defence Technology Centres - also 4
A suite of industrial/university 'partnerships'
Rolls Royce UTCs began in 1990s;
Manufacturing initiatives
BAE & Boeing
QinetiQ-university partnerships
Military funding of staff & students: professorships, lectureships, student bursaries, curriculum tools & public relations viacorporations plus QinetiQ & DSTL.
Joint Grant Scheme: 'defence' objectives - MoD/Research
Councils Military funding - the New Wave
Defence & Aerospace Research Partnerships - 10 groups active - 28 projects
Rolls Royce & BAE major players
Areas: design; simulation; modelling; materials; data handling
Universities involved include: Bristol, Cambridge, Cranfield, Glasgow, Imperial, Leicester, Loughborough, Southampton, Surrey, Sussex, Swansea & York
Funders: MoD, EPSRC, DTI. Total value of DARPS £18 million in 2002-03
Towers of Excellence - 5
Involves research groups in former government defence laboratories, military corporations & universities. Funders are MoD, QinetiQ & DTI
Areas of research at sub-system level: guided weapons; radar; synthetic environments; underwater sensors & electro-optic sensors
Plans for 25 Towers - with research student training
The Intellectual Property Rights issue not clear - civilian utility?
Universities currently: Birmingham, Cranfield, Sheffield, Surrey & Imperial College
Defence Technology Centres - 4
Areas at present covered: Data & Information Fusion; Human Factors Integration; Electromagnetic Remote Sensing; autonomous systems engineering
Consortia comprise MoD, military corporation and university partner. Funding is 50:50 MoD and industrial partner - £10 million each year for 3 to 5 years. MoD has committed £90 million to the DTCs
Student training a key element
BAE is a major player
Security issues transformed in last ten years - whereas current military support drives weapons- based approach
Lack of public accountability & discussion
Lock-in of military support for new technologies
The predominance of one or two very powerful corporations throughout the agenda-setting process in SET
Conflict resolution takes the back seat - arms escalation fuelled by SET expertise
Intellectual Property Rights issues leavened by secrecy - National Security!
Highly commercial agenda for science & little room for alternate voices
Science, engineering and technology have a vital role to play in addressing pressing needs - many are poorly funded in comparison to military objectives:
climate change amelioration, clean energy technologies, biodiversity decline, poverty and supply of clean water & proper sanitation - unequal support in the face of the military machine - all have a part to play in ensuring peace & security
University engineering departments close - 46 in the period 1994-2001- loss of expertise
Technological imperative sets unreasonable claims in conflict - clean solutions to complex multidimensional issues
The good news
Ordinary people have power - boycotts, demonstrations & pressure on government
Obtain a copy of the SGR Report or the Executive Summary which has key points & recommendations - then circulate!
Check out [other parts of] the SGR website
Question where, how and why research programmes are being set up with military funding
Open up debate and lobby suitable people. We have produced an ethical briefing on career choice in areas that attract military funding
Some good news
It is often slow, but change can occur - there are examples of change from military to security-based objectives.
There is a broad-based movement to build an ethical science & this discussion today is part of a growing process
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Military Influence SectionFor further information contact Dr Chris Langley Send
correspondence about
the web-site to webmanager@sgr.org.uk |
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