dualuseaspekter

Dual-use aspects refer to the characteristics of goods, technology, or information that can be employed for both civilian and military purposes. The term emerged in the post–World War II era as governments began to regulate the proliferation of weapons and related technology while supporting commercial innovation. Recognised dual‑use items include advanced materials, semiconductor components, software related to cyber‑security, and biological reagents that can produce vaccines or toxins.

Regulatory frameworks such as the Wassenaar Arrangement, the Proliferation Security Initiative, and the International Atomic Energy Agency’s safeguards are designed to identify and control dual‑use items. Export control lists specify which products require licences, and the Common Trait System helps assess risk based on multiple attributes like product type, user, and end‑use. In recent years, emerging fields such as quantum computing and artificial‑intelligence have prompted updates to these controls, as powerful algorithms and computational models can accelerate both beneficial research and novel weapon designs.

Civilian benefits are significant: dual‑use research underpins advances in medicine, communications, and environmental protection. However, there is legitimate concern that weakly regulated technologies may be redirected for illicit use, prompting international cooperation and compliance audits. Continuous dialogue between industry, academia, and governments aims to balance innovation with security, ensuring that dual‑use technologies are harnessed responsibly while mitigating the risks of misuse.