RWTH Aachen student union criticizes defense industry cooperation

The student union (AStA) of RWTH Aachen has criticized the university's decision to participate in the design of the Production Launch Centre Defense (PLCD), a planned technology center for the defense industry.

While the university rectorate supports the cooperation due to the current security policy situation, arguing that defending peace is a peaceful purpose, the AStA has raised concerns regarding the university's 'peace clause.' This clause states that RWTH pursues exclusively peaceful goals to contribute to a sustainable, peaceful, and democratic world.

The critics argue that the university must consider the foreseeable consequences of research projects. They point out that while defense technology for Ukraine can be justified, Germany also exports arms to states where international law and human rights compliance are questionable, necessitating a more critical view of how such technologies might be used.