What should TU Delft do about Ukraine? | Joris Luyendijk

What is the responsibility of a university when the technology it develops can help a country defend itself?

The war in Ukraine is also a technological war. Drones, AI, robotics and autonomous systems are transforming the battlefield at remarkable speed. Ukraine is developing and testing these technologies in an unprecedented feedback loop between the front line and developers. Today’s technological breakthrough may be obsolete tomorrow.

Journalist and publicist Joris Luyendijk is campaigning for Ukraine and for a stronger European defence. His conviction: Ukraine is not only fighting for itself, but also for the security and democratic future of Europe. The question is therefore not only whether we should support Ukraine, but above all: what should we do now? That question goes straight to the heart of TU Delft. As a university of technology, we are not on the sidelines. Technology can shape how future wars are fought. This brings a moral responsibility: if our knowledge can help a democracy defend itself, do we have a duty to put that knowledge to work?

At the same time, TU Delft must safeguard its academic independence: the freedom to ask critical questions and examine the consequences of technology. How far can we go in working with the military without compromising that independence? And where does the technology we develop ultimately end up?

Technological autonomy is another part of the equation. Ukraine has become a testing ground for companies such as the US-based Palantir, which deploy AI and data for military applications. What role should Europe play in developing these technologies?

With Joris Luyendijk, we will explore this tension. What can technology do, what should we develop, and what should we limit? And how can we ensure that Europe remains both safe and technologically autonomous?