New technologies - New dangers An expanded approach to risk assessment for Dual Use Technologies

There are up to 27 different definitions of the term "dual-use technologies" across the member states of the European Union. Furthermore, there is currently no uniform risk assessment framework in the European Union, nor is there one internationally. There are several reasons for this. First, there is the complexity of the technologies involved and the sovereign authority of individual countries over export controls, which also leads to inconsistent assessments. In addition, existing systems¿such as the Wassenaar Arrangement¿are voluntary, and economic competition between nations is another factor. Equally crucial is the fact that these assessments generally cannot keep pace with technological developments. Technologies that can be used for both military and civilian purposes are referred to as ¿dual-use technologies.¿ Rapid new developments have brought the relationship between science and society to a crossroads. New technologies can pose new risks to people. Examples of such technologies include artificial intelligence, robotics, and drones. Within the European Union, the export, transit, and brokering of specific technologies, as well as their transfer within the EU and to other economic powers, are subject to strict regulations. It is clear that, in the broadest sense, almost any technology can be adapted for dual-use applications. However, certain areas and technological possibilities require increased attention and consideration. Given the increasing pace of technological development and the rapid spread of new technological applications, as well as their increasing complexity, it is generally beneficial to assess and evaluate the risks of technologies as early as possible, preferably at the beginning of the research cycle. This paper examines existing assessment methods and proposes the development of an updated risk assessment framework for known dual-use technologies, with the aim of applying it to novel technologies that are intended for civilian use but could have disruptive effects in several areas. The result is a multidimensional risk assessment and mapping tool that can be used in various fields of science and at different stages of a research project.