Why prioritizing civilian innovation will lead to improved dual-use technologies.

      Envision drones that today map disaster areas and tomorrow survey military targets, or seismic sensors designed for construction that can also detect submarines underwater. These concepts highlight the potential of dual-use technologies that cater to both civilian and military needs. For the first time, the European Commission is explicitly suggesting funding for these technologies through initiatives such as Horizon Europe. However, as we strive to adopt dual-use technologies, we encounter a significant decision: should we maintain the traditional model where military applications lead innovation that civilians later adopt, or should we reverse this paradigm?

      Innovation in technology has historically followed a predictable trajectory: military needs spur development, with civilian applications emerging as an afterthought. Take GPS, often seen as one of the most successful dual-use technologies ever. Initially created by the US Department of Defence in the 1970s for military positioning and navigation, civilian access was constrained by “Selective Availability,” a feature that intentionally reduced accuracy to maintain military advantage.

      The full benefits of GPS were not realized until the Selective Availability was turned off in 2000, making it instantly ten times more precise for civilian users. It rapidly became an essential technology for daily life, leading to innovations that reshaped sectors from agriculture to transport. A 2019 report by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) estimated GPS had generated $1.4 trillion in economic advantages.

      This military-first model, as illustrated by the case of GPS, has dominated funding for innovation for years. Yet, there is compelling evidence that a civilian-first approach to dual-use technologies meets immediate societal needs more effectively and ultimately results in more robust solutions for all applications, including military ones.

      The conventional model neglects an important truth: civilian markets offer both scale and a diversity of applications that drive innovation in ways the specialized military sector cannot replicate. This trend is seen across various technological fields. Internet protocols initially created for military communication evolved significantly in civilian contexts before returning to improve military systems. The commercial drone sector has propelled aerial innovation far beyond what military procurement alone could achieve.

      Focusing on civilian-first use cases allows innovation to tap into larger markets, more varied applications, and quicker development cycles. When technologies are designed with extensive civilian use in mind, they benefit from economies of scale that military-exclusive development cannot achieve.

      One reason is that civilian innovation encounters fewer bureaucratic hurdles. Military procurement can take years or decades, while civilian markets prize agility and rapid development. Creating technologies with a civilian focus first enables them to evolve and advance more swiftly than under traditional defense procurement timelines.

      The most exciting dual-use breakthroughs arise from addressing fundamental technical challenges rather than focusing on specific military operations. When developers narrow their focus on military needs, they often overlook the broader possibilities of their technologies. Scientific potential becomes tangible only through practical application.

      An exemplary challenge is creating robust navigation systems that operate independently of GPS. A solution allowing delivery drones to adeptly navigate urban settings could transform logistics and simultaneously serve crucial defense operations. By prioritizing civilian applications while recognizing potential military roles, we open the door to innovations that might otherwise remain unexplored.

      Research from the European Commission regarding the integration of military tech into the follow-up to Horizon Europe indicates that academic and research institutions prefer maintaining the status quo, limiting Europe’s R&D funding solely to civilian technologies. By creating funding pathways that respect these preferences, we can expand the talent pool and tackle critical technological challenges. Given the financial and political challenges facing US higher education, Europe could attract top innovators from the Atlantic by fostering an environment that resonates with their core values.

      As Europe heightens its emphasis on strategic autonomy and technological independence, dual-use technologies will become increasingly vital. The EU’s recent decision to permit dual-use funding through initiatives like Horizon Europe marks a significant shift in our approach to innovation. However, these initiatives should not merely replicate the traditional military-first paradigm.

      By focusing on civilian applications while also considering military uses, we can harness market forces, attract diverse talent, and develop more resilient technologies for all purposes.

      For dual-use development to be truly sustainable, civilian and military technologies must not remain isolated; we need to connect civilian-first R&D with military applications. Given the substantial gap between the operations of these two sectors, this requires a proactive approach. Fostering more open exchanges of knowledge could facilitate the application of insights and lessons learned in both directions. Organizations focused on military technology should begin nurturing civilian equivalents, while civilian-focused institutions, like mine — SPRIND, the German federal agency for disruptive innovation — must also investigate military applications.

      The challenges we face — from climate change and energy security to supply chain resilience — demand technological solutions that encompass multiple purposes. The outdated divide between civilian and military innovation is no longer applicable in a world where the most powerful technologies invariably serve both spheres. The transformative dual-use technologies of tomorrow are closer than we realize, provided we concentrate on civilian applications today.