Camps

Ethics & Compliance in Research

  • Scientific rigour, global responsibility, and a commitment to International Humanitarian Law.

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SEIUM Univesity

At SEIUM — International University of Advanced Multimodal Engineering, research ethics and international regulatory compliance form the foundation on which all scientific, technical, and industrial activity is built. As a leading university in multimodal engineering and advanced technologies—many of which have dual-use potential (civil/military) or significant social impact—SEIUM has established a comprehensive governance system to ensure that every project, publication, and technology transfer is developed under the highest standards of legality, transparency, and ethical responsibility.

Our commitment goes beyond regulatory compliance: it is an institutional conviction. Advanced engineering must be safe, ethical, and compliant with International Humanitarian Law (IHL), ensuring that innovation contributes to human progress without putting peace, equity, or fundamental rights at risk.

SEIUM Research Ethics Guiding Principles

SEIUM’s research ethics and compliance policy is built on four essential pillars:

 
 

Scientific integrity

Toda investigación debe ser verificable, reproducible y libre de conflictos de interés.  Los datos, modelos y resultados deben cumplir con los principios FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable) y ser gestionados con trazabilidad completa

Integrity and Scientific Ethics

All research must be verifiable, reproducible, and free from conflicts of interest. Data, models, and results must follow the FAIR principles (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable) and be managed with full traceability.

Social and technological responsibility

Projects are developed in compliance with export control regulations, technology security requirements, data privacy rules, and dual-use considerations, ensuring alignment with global regulations and standards (ITAR, EAR, GDPR, the AI Act, ISO 31000, ISO 37301).

Respect for International Humanitarian Law (IHL):

All research related to defence, autonomy, or artificial intelligence is assessed under the framework of the Geneva Conventions, ensuring that technologies do not contribute to indiscriminate harm, automated discrimination, or unauthorised offensive use.

“At SEIUM, engineering is understood as a force in the service of humanity. Technical excellence has no value if it is not accompanied by moral integrity.”

Compliance Framework: Dual-Use, Export Controls, and Technology Security

SEIUM applies a comprehensive techno-legal compliance framework, managed by the Research Ethics & Compliance Office (RECO), which ensures compliance with all relevant regulations governing advanced research, defence, and sensitive technologies.

 
 

Research and technology transfer activities involving materials, software, algorithms, or knowledge that may have military or dual-use potential are governed by the following frameworks:

  • ITAR (International Traffic in Arms Regulations, United States)
    Controls the export of defence-related articles and services.
    SEIUM reviews all international projects to ensure collaborations do not breach ITAR restrictions.
  • EAR (Export Administration Regulations, United States)
    Regulates dual-use technologies (civil/military). SEIUM applies internal screening to prevent the unauthorised transfer of sensitive know-how to restricted entities.
  • EU Regulation 2021/821 (Dual-Use Regulation)
    European legal framework for exports of dual-use goods and technologies.
    SEIUM conducts compliance assessments for projects involving AI, cryptography, simulation, or advanced materials.
  • Wassenaar Arrangement & MTCR (Missile Technology Control Regime)
    Voluntary controls on the transfer of software, electronics, and advanced sensors applicable to missiles or autonomous vehicles.
  • NATO/EU Restricted & Classified Information
    Protocols for secure access, sharing, and storage of confidential or classified technical information, in line with NATO and EU standard

Before launch, every research or technology transfer proposal undergoes a compliance assessment that determines its classification based on the level of sensitivity:

Category – Description – Requirements

A – Civil
No dual-use risk and no export restrictions.
Standard ethics review.

B – Controlled dual-use
Potential applications in defence or security.
RECO review + technical audit.

C – Sensitive / Classified
Restricted information or critical technology.
Prior authorisation + custody on ISO 27001 secure servers.

SEIUM adheres to the Hague Principles on Ethics and Technology, the Geneva Conventions, and the ethical guidelines of UNESCO’s Recommendation on the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence (2021).

Each researcher involved in a Category B or C project must complete SEIUM’s mandatory Dual-Use & Export Control Compliance training.

 
 

International Humanitarian Law (IHL) Applied to Technological Research

SEIUM’s research in areas such as defence, autonomy, robotics, AI, materials, and energy may involve potential uses in strategic or security contexts. For this reason, the university applies IHL as a guiding principle, ensuring that the technologies developed do not violate the principles of humanity, distinction, and proportionality.

 
 
  • Responsible and ethical AI:
    Any development of autonomous or decision-making algorithms is subject to an ethical audit (AI Ethics Review) based on the OECD AI Principles and the EU AI Act, ensuring transparency, traceability, and human oversight in decision-making.
  • Defence engineering and dual-use systems:
    Participation in defence programmes takes place only within international regulatory frameworks, for the purposes of resilience, civil protection, and mitigation of humanitarian risks—never for offensive or aggressive purposes
  • Robotics and autonomy:All multimodal autonomy projects include “human-in-the-loop” mechanisms and ethical validation.
  • Simulation and digital twins:It is ensured that simulation tools are not used for conflict scenarios or for unauthorised use of prohibited weapons.

SEIUM adheres to the Hague Principles on Ethics and Technology, the Geneva Conventions, and the ethical guidelines set out in UNESCO’s Recommendation on the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence (2021).

 
 

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Ethics and Compliance Training for Researchers and Students

SEIUM provides ongoing, certified training in ethics, compliance, and international regulation for both its research staff and master’s and doctoral students.

Training Programmes

  • Course in Research Ethics and Scientific Integrity (ISO 37301/COPE).
  • Diploma in Technology Compliance and Export Controls.
  • Certification in Responsible AI and the European AI Act Regulatory Framework.
  • Seminar on IHL, Innovation, and Dual-Use Responsibility.
  • Annual SEIUM Ethics & Tech Forum workshop, with participation from experts from the IAEA, UNESCO, the European Commission, and the Defence Ethics Network.

Research Ethics and Compliance Committee (RECO)

RECO — the Research Ethics & Compliance Office — is the central body responsible for ensuring the application of ethical and compliance standards across all SEIUM research activity. It is made up of experts in international law, engineers, security analysts, export control officers, internal auditors, and academic representatives.

 
 

Prior Assessment and Authorisation of Research Projects

Ethical and compliance risk classification.

Periodic audits of laboratories and repositories.

Mandatory training in ethics, security, and compliance.

Coordination with regulatory agencies (EU, NATO, IAEA, EASA, ISO).

Oversight of publications to prevent uncontrolled disclosures.

RECO maintains direct communication with the SEIUM Institutes (SDS, DAIS, SEN, SAS, etc.), ensuring that all research lines follow protocols compatible with national and international regulatory frameworks.

Transparency, traceability, and accountability

SEIUM applies a full transparency model in the monitoring of its projects and collaborations:

Centralised ethics register

Each project has a unique RECO-UID identifier.

Digital traceability system

Tracking of decisions, reviews, and licences.

Annual external audits.

Under ISO 37301 (Compliance Management) and ISO 27001 (Information Security).

Publication of compliance reports

Annually on the “Ethics & Governance SEIUM” portal.

This approach not only ensures compliance, but also strengthens SEIUM’s global reputation as a leading university in ethics applied to advanced engineering.

Results and impact

  • 100% of SEIUM projects undergo an ethics and compliance review.
  • Zero incidents of breaches of international regulations since its founding.
  • More than 500 researchers trained in compliance and technology ethics.
  • Participation in 20 international committees on ethical AI, responsible defence, and dual-use regulation.
  • Recognised by the European Commission as a model of “Research Integrity Best Practice (2024)”.
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