On Tuesday 30 September, Europe’s research ministers expressed their desire to allow dual-use projects - civil and military - to be implemented under the Horizon Europe research programme (see EUROPE 13718/13). They have, however, set out conditions to frame and limit this provision.
The ministers recognised that the inclusion of dual-use projects, in a limited and reasoned way, was appropriate in view of the current geopolitical situation. “The innovation gap is already a challenge. We should not add a defence research gap on top of it”, said Estonia’s Kristina Kallas. “We must acknowledge that geography and geopolitics shape member state needs”.
It would also make economic sense. “We must prioritise excellence and protect collaborative cause to maximise the impact of our research and innovation investment”, said Irish Minister James Lawless.
However, this paradigm shift first requires administrative simplification. “Simplification is essential; it is vital in this process, and Lithuania believes that the ‘mini-omnibus’ on rearmament can serve as a pilot and provide valuable lessons for streamlining procedures in Horizon Europe and European competitiveness”, said the Lithuanian minister, Regina Valutytė.
In addition, the ministers considered it essential to guarantee transparency and respect for the EU’s fundamental values in order to avoid any confusion between civilian and military objectives. “I strongly advocate for research on different dimensions of conflict prevention, peacebuilding, and peacekeeping as a strong component of the next framework programme”, insisted Austrian Minister Eva-Maria Holzleitner. “Dual-use research must, of course, be conducted with caution”.
The ministers also want to ensure the protection of sensitive data and critical infrastructures. “We will need a clear and transparent framework, stronger security measures to protect research data and robust ethical guidelines”, said Slovakian State Secretary Ján Hrinko. “Dual-use applications can be attractive targets for external threats and raise sensitive ethical questions”.
His Romanian colleague, Andrei Alexandru, felt it was necessary to “carefully draft the clauses defining responsibilities for securing licences, managing export restrictions and mitigating embargo risks”. Intellectual property management is another sensitive issue: dual-use projects often involve technologies that are classified or subject to transfer restrictions. “Agreements must therefore clearly delineate between classified and unclassified components”, he added.
Lastly, some ministers mentioned the importance of providing a clear framework for cooperation with third countries in order to safeguard Europe’s strategic interests and security standards. “It is essential that citizens continue to have confidence in European research”, said Luxembourg's Georges Jacoby. (Original version in French by Anne Damiani)