UG suspends its participation in REACT project

Recent media reports have covered a European research project called REACT, in which the University of Groningen (UG) will collaborate with 11 other universities to develop energy-efficient computers. One of the participants is a scientist from the Technion, The Israel Institute of Technology. The project was scheduled to start on 1 November.

This week, indications emerged that this scientist appears to have close ties with senior officials in the Israeli military. We are shocked by this information.

This new information gives reason to submit this research collaboration to the Knowledge Security and Sensitive Partnerships Advisory Team in particular to further investigate potential dual-use issues. Until the Advisory Team has issued its advice on the matter and a decision has been made, we are suspending our participation in the project.

We will provide further information as soon as the Advisory Committee’s findings and its decision are known.