Given the current geopolitical and technological context, the issue of dual-use and defense research is becoming increasingly relevant in the European research and innovation landscape. Many of the new technologies supported under the Horizon Europe program may have potential implications for security or defense, even though they are primarily intended for civilian use. At the same time, the EU has established specific defense research instruments, including the European Defense Fund (EDF), which contributes to a broader innovation ecosystem that interacts directly or indirectly with civilian research.
Therefore, on May 19, the LINO office, together with colleagues from the Permanent Representations of Lithuania and Austria to the European Union and the Austrian Research Promotion Agency (Forschungsförderungsgesellschaft), organized a workshop for science attachés and national experts on the topic of dual-use and defense research under the “Horizon Europe” program.
Representatives from DG RTD (Directorate-General for Research and Innovation), the EIC (European Innovation Council), and DG DEFIS (Directorate-General for Defence Industry and Space) to present their experiences and share insights on the coordination of the “Horizon Europe” program and other defense-related measures in the field of dual-use.
Doris Schroecker, a representative from DG RTD, presented the Commission’s strategy for integrating dual-use technologies into “Horizon Europe” while maintaining the program’s essentially civilian nature. She discussed how the “Dual Use by Design” concept will be applied, how topics will be selected, and what the security and ethical requirements will be. In his presentation, Erno Vandeweert shared the experience of the EDF (European Defense Fund), which, unlike “Horizon Europe,” is defense-oriented, and its final product must have a military purpose. Finally, Paola Lo Bue Oddo presented the expanded mandates of the EIC under the new STEP Regulation, which now include direct support for innovation in the defense sector.
The event concluded with a discussion during which policymakers and member states shared their insights on how dual-use and defense research aspects are understood and addressed within and beyond the “Horizon Europe” program, while maintaining its identity. Practical barriers hindering the integration of civil and defense ecosystems were discussed. Attention was also drawn to the complexity of research and development and differences in standards: in the civilian sector, absolute safety is prioritized, while in the military sector, mission success is the priority.
