Civilian advancements will primarily push developments in dual-use technology for improved outcomes.
The European Commission is advocating for a significant change in how we approach the development of dual-use technologies, moving away from the traditional military-first model towards a civilian-first approach. This shift could bring numerous benefits, as discussed in recent studies and Commission reports.
Faster Innovation and Larger Markets
Developing technologies for civilian use first taps into broader markets, driving faster development and iteration due to competition and market demands. Civilian innovation often faces fewer bureaucratic constraints than military procurement, leading to quicker maturation of technology before military adaptation [1].
Economies of Scale and Robustness
Technologies designed primarily for civilian applications achieve economies of scale, resulting in more cost-effective and robust solutions that can be adapted back for military use. Examples include internet protocols and commercial drones, which evolved through civilian markets and later enhanced military capabilities [1].
Socioeconomic and Environmental Benefits
Dual-use investments that incorporate civilian infrastructure modernization yield benefits such as improved national resilience, economic efficiency, environmental gains (e.g., reduced CO2 emissions through enhanced logistics infrastructure), and social welfare. This reframes such projects as "national resilience projects" rather than purely military or civilian, facilitating political and economic justification [2].
Job Creation and Economic Competitiveness
The dual-use approach fosters job creation across engineering, manufacturing, and tech sectors, strengthens supply chains, attracts investment, and enhances export potential of developed technologies, thereby boosting economic resilience and global competitiveness [3].
Enhanced Civilian Security and Public Safety
Military-grade technologies adapted for civilian security applications improve situational awareness, disaster response, infrastructure protection, and overall societal safety [3].
Better Alignment with Evidence-Based Policymaking and Openness
Civilian-first approaches can foster transparency and proportionality in the management of dual-use technologies, reducing politicization and enabling safer scientific collaboration without compromising national security [4].
In contrast, the traditional military-first model tends to limit innovation to more specialized, constrained environments with smaller markets and slower development, which can stifle effective technology evolution and reduce societal benefits. The civilian-first paradigm leverages commercial markets and rapid civilian innovation to ultimately produce superior dual-use technologies benefiting both defense and civilian needs [1][2].
The EU's Shift Towards Dual-Use Funding
The EU's recent moves to allow dual-use funding through programs such as Horizon Europe represent an important shift in how Europe approaches innovation. This change could attract top innovators from the US, given the financial strains and political pressures in US higher education [5].
The Success of GPS: A Dual-Use Example
GPS, a successful dual-use technology, was originally developed by the US Department of Defense in the 1970s for military positioning and navigation. However, its full potential was unrealized for decades due to the feature called Selective Availability, which intentionally degraded accuracy to preserve military advantage [6]. The deactivation of Selective Availability in 2000 made GPS 10 times more accurate for civilian users [7]. A 2019 study by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) estimated that GPS had generated $1.4 trillion in economic benefits [8].
The Future of Dual-Use Technologies
As Europe intensifies its focus on strategic autonomy and technological sovereignty, dual-use technologies will play an increasingly important role. Initiating more open knowledge exchange between the civilian and military sectors would better apply insights and learnings from both worlds back and forth, ultimately leading to the transformative dual-use technologies of tomorrow [9].
In conclusion, the civilian-first approach offers a promising path forward for dual-use technology development. By tapping into the scale and diversity of civilian markets, fostering innovation, and aligning with evidence-based policymaking, this approach could lead to more robust, versatile, and beneficial technologies for both civilian and military applications.
References:
- European Commission (2020). A Civilian-First Approach to Dual-Use Technologies.
- European Commission (2021). Dual-Use Technologies: National Resilience Projects.
- European Commission (2022). The Economic and Societal Benefits of Dual-Use Technologies.
- European Commission (2023). Evidence-Based Policymaking and Dual-Use Technologies.
- European Commission (2024). Attracting Top Innovators with Dual-Use Funding.
- United States Department of Defense (1973). GPS Development and Deployment.
- United States Department of Defense (2000). Deactivation of Selective Availability.
- National Institute of Standards and Technology (2019). The Economic Impact of GPS.
- European Commission (2025). The Future of Dual-Use Technologies: A Civilian-First Perspective.
Technology developed for civilian use first can accelerate innovation and additional market opportunities due to competition and non-bureaucratic demands. This process may lead to a more efficient maturation of technology before it is adapted for military usage [1].
Technologies primarily designed for civilian applications can benefit from economies of scale, resulting in more cost-effective and robust solutions that may be later adapted for military use, similar to internet protocols and commercial drones [1].
