VUB severs AI research ties with Israel, cites ethical concerns

Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), a Flemish-speaking university, has decided to end its cooperation with Israeli partners, citing "ethical reasons." Until now, the university had collaborated with two Israeli institutions on an artificial intelligence research project.

The VUB authorities reported that the decision to end the cooperation resulted from a negative opinion expressed by the university's ethics committee. In a statement, the university explained that it wants to be more transparent about its current collaboration with Israeli institutions or companies, especially in the context of an "unacceptable escalation of conflict in the Middle East." The university also announced that it would closely examine the remaining projects conducted jointly with Israel - there are currently seven - and will decide whether to continue the cooperation in each case.

The university announced that it will submit a request to the European Commission, which finances the project, for the possibility of withdrawing from it. These projects are implemented under the European Union's Horizon Europe program, which funds scientific research and innovation. Israel is one of the project's partner countries, meaning that institutions from that country can also participate in EU-funded research projects.

European Commission spokesman Johannes Bahrke stated that withdrawing from the project by one of the partners, according to EU regulations, is not prohibited, although the university must be aware of the potential consequences if the signed agreements predict such.

VUB is not the only Belgian university where students are demanding an end to cooperation with Israel. In recent weeks, pro-Palestinian protests have been organized at many universities. On Monday, students from the University of Ghent occupied the university campus. On Tuesday, students from the second Brussels university, the French-speaking Universite Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), took similar actions.