Europe is entering a new era—one defined by geopolitical turbulence, rising security threats, and the urgent need for strategic autonomy. I believe that in this landscape, technical universities can no longer afford to consider themselves neutral educational institutions. Against this background, we are becoming architects of resilience, tasked with balancing openness and security while driving innovation and education forward. While recognising that some technical universities have long-standing experience in areas such as dual-use, defence, and space, while others do not, and that engagement will neither be uniform nor universal, it is nevertheless clear that, collectively, our community must step up further.
Artificial intelligence, quantum computing, cybersecurity, advanced materials, biotechnology and other emerging technologies are shaping our future. They hold great promise for breakthroughs in health, food security, and industry. But they also carry a shadow: many of these technologies are dual-use, serving both civilian and military purposes depending on their application. This is not merely a theoretical debate; it is already becoming an important driver of the European innovation system. The essential question, therefore, is how do we develop and apply these technologies responsibly while preventing that they are potentially misused and exposed to foreign influence?
Space technologies exemplify both the dual-use challenge and opportunity. Satellite communications, Earth observation, and navigation systems such as Galileo and Copernicus serve civilian needs—climate monitoring, disaster response, precision agriculture—while simultaneously underpinning security and defence capabilities. Because of this dual-use nature, research and innovation must carefully balance openness and collaboration with security and resilience. The EU Space programme and agencies like the European Space Agency (ESA) and EU Agency for the Space Programme (EUSPA) are investing heavily to ensure Europe’s autonomy in space-based services, which are critical for European resilience during crises. In this context, technical universities play a crucial role: advancing research in secure satellite systems, quantum-based navigation, and space cybersecurity, while embedding ethical and security considerations in the innovation process. Space is not just a frontier—it is a strategic domain where Europe cannot afford to fall behind.
But principles alone won’t suffice. Building secure research and technology infrastructures, robust compliance frameworks, and ethical guardrails requires tangible resources. In this regard, Europe is currently stepping up. Instruments like the European Defence Fund (EDF) and the forthcoming European Competitiveness Fund go beyond traditional grant programmes - serving as strategic platforms for collaboration and enabling universities to translate blue-sky research into real-world applications—while upholding core values.
No single institution can navigate these topics alone.
That’s why CESAER has launched the Working Group on Dual-Use, Defence, and Space—a forum for Europe’s leading technical universities to share experiences, anticipate risks, and seize opportunities. To fully leverage the new funding opportunities, collaboration and the exchange of best practices among institutions will be essential, ensuring that investments translate into secure, ethical, resilient and impactful innovation.
At TU Wien, we have already taken initial steps: creating dedicated groups on research security and integrity, integrating these principles into governance – for example, in projects involving security research - and fostering a culture of critical reflection. However, this can only be a starting point. We are fully aware of the necessity to learn from other universities, exchange experiences, and adopt best practices to strengthen our approach and ensure alignment with European standards. CESAER’s new working group will be a great opportunity to do so.
Addressing the above-mentioned challenges and opportunities demands collective action. Europe’s technical universities must align principles, partnerships, and resources to embed ethics and security in the innovation process. By leveraging collaboration and strategic funding, universities can transform this challenge into an opportunity—ensuring Europe becomes a responsible leader in dual-use, defence and space technologies.
This op-ed was written by Peter Ertl, Vice Rector for Research, Innovation and International Affairs at TU Wien and Chair of CESAER Workgroup Dual-Use, Defence and Space 2026-2027
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