Statement on the debate surrounding research on military projects at the University of Bremen:

The Rector of the University of Bremen, Prof.Wilfried Müller, supports unconditionally the so-called ‘Civilian Clause’, which was almost unanimously reaffirmed by the Academic Senate during its meeting on 25th January 2012.

Quite independent of current media reports concerning a research project in the field of Communication Engineering, the Rector had several weeks beforehand instructed the Central Administration to conduct a general investigation throughout the University. The task was to find out whether there was any evidence during the past ten years that university researchers had been working on projects which could have military implications. The aim was to determine whether there were any projects that might contravene the Civilian Claus. The Rector will inform the Academic Senate of the findings of this investigation in due course.

With regard to the BüLAND project which is at the center of criticism: From 2003 to 2006 the University of Bremen was involved as a subcontractor in this research project. The main contractor of the project, which was financed by the German Ministry of Defense, is the OHB Corporation. Over a three-year period, the University for its part received some 100,000 euros of funding within the context of the project, which was embedded in the field of Communications Engineering in the Department of Electrical Engineering. The project was concerned with fundamental research in the area of data transmission, and the research findings were openly available to everyone. They formed the basis for third-party funding subsequently granted by the German Research Foundation [DFG].

Rector Wilfried Müller points out that: “The participating professors had correctly supplied the University’s administration with all necessary information relating to the project.” In 2003, however, following the granting of third-party funds in an amount of 65 million euros, no further investigation of the project was undertaken in respect of the Civilian Clause. “In the light of today’s sensitivity concerning the Civilian Clause, the project would most certainly have been the topic of intense debate.”

About the Civilian Clause: The Civilian Clause is a self-commitment on the part of the University of Bremen. It constitutes a precept, calling for all the University’s researchers to ensure the civilian character of research. There is a broad consensus of support for this precept throughout the University. Rector Wilfried Müller believes that: “Members of the University of Bremen are perfectly capable of assuming independent responsibility for ensuring that the Civilian Clause is upheld, also in light of the dual-use problematic.“