Government science subsidies have benefitted Britain’s largest arms company, BAE Systems, to the tune of £1bn over the last 30 years. More than 600 research grants for UK universities have been used for joint projects with BAE, with tens of millions of pounds in additional state handouts going towards internships at the company. BAE, a profitable weapons manufacturer, produces components for Israeli warplanes and has seen its share price soar. Activists from Campaign Against Arms Trade are calling for the severed ties between arms companies and academic institutions.
The grants were awarded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), with the council falling under UK Research and Innovation. BAE Systems defended the collaborations, stating they invest significantly in skills, innovation, and partnerships. Notably, Imperial College London received a grant in 2005 for research into techniques with direct applications in manufacturing aircraft components for F-35 fighter jets used by the Israeli air force.
Internships
University partnerships extend to internships and training funded through the Industrial Cooperative Awards in Science & Engineering (ICASE) program. Over £100m has been awarded for BAE projects since 2002, with a portion contributed by the company itself. These initiatives offer students experience in industry research relevant to BAE, with students benefiting from real-world projects and mentorship.