[This insight is in response to Dual-use assessment by Rijksinstituut voor Volksgezondheid en Milieu, featured in the June 30, 2025 issue of the RISC Media Bulletin.]
As emerging technologies race ahead, Research Security Officers (RSOs) are facing a new frontier of challenges—dual-use research. These are scientific advancements that can benefit society but also pose serious national security risks if misused.
From AI and biotech to quantum computing and UAVs, today’s most promising innovations are also the most vulnerable. Most have clear-cut use in areas that will improve lives, such as healthcare, clean energy, and developing innovative vaccines or drug therapies.
They can also have more nefarious uses, such as surveillance, military applications, and development of harmful bioweapons. While some are regulated under frameworks like the Export Administration Regulations (EAR), many fall into gray zones where policy hasn’t caught up with progress.
