Mark Akkerman, researcher at Stop Wapenhandel, will deliver the lecture. They will be talking about the ties of the universities of technology in the Netherlands and their collaborations with the Israeli weapon industry. The main question of the evening will be how these collaborations affect Palestine.

The organizer of the lecture, Eindhoven Students 4 Palestine, previously sent a letter of demands to the Executive Board, which states they want the university to discontinue its collaborations with Israeli universities, institutes and companies.

TU/e’s ties

“In the recent past, the TU/e has been working with Israeli partners on projects with direct military applications,” the authors of the letter state. “Via the EuroTech Universities Alliance, the TU/e is also cooperating with Israeli universities.” The organization also published a list of TU/e’s known ties to Israel. This contains many projects, universities, companies, and institutes, including the Ministry of Public Security (SUBCOP, former military project) and Bar Ilan University (TAILOR, current AI project).

From the letter: “These connections, directly or indirectly, facilitate the military occupation of Palestine and enable the ongoing genocide. They cover different areas like AI technologies and quantum computing that can be used for security and defence purposes in Israel.”

More information

The lecture will take place on May 29, from 5 PM to 6.30 PM, in Gemini 3A12. It’s free, but only accessible to TU/e, Fontys and Design Academy Eindhoven students and staff. Prior registration through this online link is mandatory.