ONE of the world's foremost universities is to quit dealings with a firm said to be involved in the controversial arms-related "drone" deployment programme following a student protest.
The firm, Ultra Electronics, which is based in Middlesex, England, had seen the promise of investment of £400,000 from the university before a wave of complaint over potential use of the technology for war-related purposes.
Edinburgh University has now confirmed it has changed its stance following a move by student and campaign groups, who pushed for a rethink and it is now withdrawing funding from Ultra Electronics.
The company makes navigation controls for unmanned aerial vehicles.
Edinburgh University Students Association (Eusa), the student environmental group People and Planet, and the human rights charity Reprieve launched a campaign for the university to disinvest in June.
A university spokesman said: "Having taken on board concerns raised by Edinburgh University Students' Association, we have taken the decision to disinvest in Ultra Electronics."
It was earlier reported that the value of the investment made by Edinburgh University was more than £1m.
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