Zita Martins, Vice-President of Técnico for International Affairs, has been appointed co-chair of the working group on Dual-Use, Defence and Space at CESAER (Conference of European Schools for Advanced Engineering Education and Research), a European association of leading specialised and comprehensive universities of science and technology, currently consisting of 53 members in 24 European countries plus Israel. This appointment was made by the organisation’s Board of Directors, and the mandate runs until 31 December 2027.
According to Zita Martins, science and technology are no longer merely drivers of progress but have also become “instruments of sovereignty, security and resilience”. She believes that the working group she is part of could have a “very significant” impact on institutional leadership. This initiative is not focused on individual projects, but rather on how universities strategically consider their role”.
In this regard, she highlights three key contributions to research culture: defining institutional strategies in these areas; sharing best practices, particularly regarding access to European funding; and building trust among institutions through dialogue.
The co-chair also identifies several challenges: “The tension between open science and security, cultural and political differences between countries, and the need to ensure that dual-use research is conducted responsibly and transparently”. Additionally, she highlights that the greatest challenge may be in not losing the identity of universities.
“In the short term, the most important thing is to listen; this is an exploratory group, which means building a solid foundation of shared understanding”, she argues. In the long term, however, she hopes that the work carried out will contribute to “something greater”, promoting investment in science “not just for the sake of competitiveness, but for strategic vision and global responsibility”.
“For me, this is an opportunity to help position universities and, in particular, Instituto Superior Técnico, as key players in this new context”, said the vice-president. She believes that, “in an increasingly complex European context”, the School can play a vital role in building bridges. “Técnico is a hub of knowledge in dual-use technologies; a facilitator of dialogue between science, politics and society; and an example of responsible governance”, she emphasised.
The co-chair concluded by noting that the current climate is making the boundaries between civil and defence “increasingly blurred”, which could represent an opportunity for universities to assert their “unique value”. “We are helping to shape the future of science in society. And that, for me, is the most important thing”, she stated.
