The Danish version of this article can be read here

My name is Dylan Cawthorne, and I have just quit my job.  

For the past 12 years, I was an Associate Professor, teacher, and researcher at the University of Southern Denmark (SDU) Drone Center. 

I was a founding member of the SDU Drone Center eight years ago.  For a while, I was acclaimed by my peers and my leadership for my humanitarian work during the pandemic, my contributions to the green transition, and as a proponent for ethics in technological development. 

Now times are apparently different, and these skills are no longer in demand.  Instead, the focus is on making drones for the military, on making technologies that kill.  

Quitting was not an easy decision to make – there were many things I really enjoyed about my job.  I had some wonderful students and colleagues.  There were great benefits – SDU funded my PhD in ethics and drone design.  Ironically, the insights I gained in my PhD and further research helped me decide to quit. I felt it was my only recourse. 

Universities integrated with the military

In 2023, the National Defense Technology Center (National Forsvarsteknologisk Center (NFC)) was established in Denmark.  With its creation, all Danish universities have been integrated with the military.  This is a fundamental change in how Danish universities operate – shifting from research and education focused on civil technologies and green transition, to those with military applications.  In my opinion, this move does not align with the vision of a public university as a safe place for learning, finding solutions to national and global challenges, and making the world a better place.  Instead, it turns our universities into places that support violence.

In a well-functioning democracy, politicians should consult with their constituents and university leadership should engage with their employees, students, and the trade unions prior to making drastic changes like integrating with the military. I have not seen democratic processes being used, and we researchers were never consulted about this drastic change.

The Danish re-armament

The Danish government plans to invest 5% of its Gross Domestic Product on the military in the coming years, including investments in military research funding to universities.  This will drastically alter the course of university research.  From the perspective of a drone engineer hoping to make non-violent technologies, this means the situation will only get worse.

Academic freedom of research has – in practice – always been somewhat of a myth.  Funding sets our research agendas to a high degree.  And universities are run like a business, where external research funding is required if you want to keep your job.  This huge investment in military projects will increase pressure on researchers to work on them – even if it doesn’t align with their research interests or values.

Prior to this push for military funding, the Green Transition was a main focus of Danish investment.  During the Green Transition, the situation was better because the amounts of money were smaller and therefore the influence. And we were asked to work on something most people could support – addressing climate change. But now, the military funding is massive and unavoidable.  We do not, in practice, have research freedom.

In 2024, a former brigadier general was hired by SDU to establish the Danish Center for Defense Robotics and Autonomy.  I believe that this is only the beginning of the militarization at unviersities.  And I wonder how a public university can be open, yet develop secret military technology at the same time.  I don’t see how they fit together.

Before I left the university, we were required to coordinate with a center leader that is working with military research on all new project proposals, so they could potentially be weaponized.  I believe this is an infringement on research freedom as well – it subverts the intentions of the technology and of the researcher for violent aims.

Thunderstrike Aviation takes over civil airport

The militarization of civil infrastructure has started at the Hans Christian Andersen (HCA) Airport in Beldringe, Denmark.  I helped establish the SDU facilities at the airport several years ago, and at the time we were excited about the opportunities to develop and test drones for educational, emergency healthcare, and nature conservation purposes.  I expect these efforts will now be greatly overshadowed – and funding will be taken away – because of the investment in military drones.

The Danish military is now operating at the HCA Airport, with the promise of 100 employees by 2026.  The military drone company Thunderstrike Aviation from the USA is building 3,000 square meter facilities inside the airport perimeter.  And more foreign companies may be joining at the airport soon, as Denmark is the first country which will host the Ukrainian military industry.  This will be the first time in recent years when such military production takes place on Fyn. I see this is a sad development.

Drones for peace

In June 2025, I felt I had to act. I organized a Drones for Peace gathering at the HCA Airport during the International Drone Show.  The Drones for Peace project was a way of showing support for the non-violent use and development of drone technology.  We gathered in support of drones for peace – not for war. 

The Drone Show attracted over 500 exhibitors this year, and featured a massive military presence – especially compared to prior events.  The Drones for Peace gathering brought together people with a diverse range of political beliefs. I found great support from the International Socialists, and for that I am grateful.

The gathering garnered local, national, and international news coverage – including coverage by the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC).  

Academic military industrial complex

I believe that the increased militarization and reduction in research freedom currently happening are unethical. I also believe that they are motivated by economic interests and fear, not peace or freedom.   

I wish the Danish state would instead invest as aggressively in the green transition, humanitarian work, peace-building, diplomacy, and military de-escalation.  I think this would be much more productive than entering another arms race.

My resignation was not an easy decision, but in the end I felt it was my only option – to stay true to myself and my values. I refused to be a part of this academic military industrial complex. My last day at SDU was the 31st of July, 2025. 

I encourage everyone to consider if they want to be part of this militarization – and if not to organize and stand up against it.  If people from all segments of the supply chain refused to participate in researching, developing, and building the technology required to wage war these conflicts could be slowed down – and hopefully, one day, eliminated.  I believe it is possible, but we must act now.  

Website: www.dylancawthorne.com Email: dylan@dylancawthorne.com

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