Dual-Use Technology

Devices, processes, or techniques that may have both military and civilian uses. Closely related to dual-use are the spin-off and spin-on concepts. Spin-offs are technologies developed by the military that find commercial success, whereas spin-ons are technologies developed in the commercial sector that find military application.

Examples of Dual-Use Technology

Throughout the 20th century, commercial and military developments have played off each other, both to the detriment and advantage of society. For example, developments made in commercial chemistry at the turn of the 20th century served the global community by helping to eradicate pests and disease. However, they also led to the production of toxic chemical agents such as chlorine gas, some of which were used against soldiers in World War I.

Other technologies, such as rocketry, have bounced back and forth from military developers to civilian enthusiasts and commercial industries. Computers also found early use and success in military applications, such as the development of artillery firing tables. The investment made by the U.S. military in systems such [Page 221]as ENIAC (Electronic Numerical Integrator and Computer) furthered computer engineering as a discipline, ultimately making massive contributions to the information age. The Internet and the Global Positioning System (GPS) were both born under the auspices of the Pentagon, revolutionizing communications and navigation for the world as a whole.

From nuclear reactors to chemical pesticides, from lightweight hardened materials to communication and navigation systems, dual-use technologies pervade the modern world. Although dual-use technologies abound, they are not free from controversy. Nuclear power plants and nuclear weapons are classic examples of the dilemmas of dual-use technologies. The same skills used to harness the atom for peaceful means might also be employed to divert nuclear materials to clandestine weapons programs. Currently, many policymakers are concerned that developing countries are relying increasingly on nuclear power for their energy needs. This trend has given rise to fears that nuclear proliferation could increase in the 21st century.

Monitoring Dual-Use Technology

In each technology sector, defining peaceful use from what is potentially harmful has become the domain of governmental departments, international bodies, and treaty organizations. In the arena of nuclear energy, the United Nations International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) serves to investigate potential covert-weapons development programs while increasing the peaceful role of atomic power worldwide. Founded in 1957 as Atoms for Peace, the IAEA works with its member states and multiple partners worldwide to promote safe, secure, and peaceful nuclear technologies. The IAEA's mission is three-pronged: (a) safety and security, (b) science and technology, and (c) safeguards and verification.

Dual-use industrial chemicals are monitored by the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), which implements the provisions of the 1993 Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC). The OPCW is charged with maintaining a regime to verify destruction of chemical weapons and with preventing their reemergence. The verification regime is a central component of the CWC and includes comprehensive data reporting and detailed on-site inspections.

In the United States, the National Science Advisory Board for Biosecurity at the National Institutes of Health monitors dual-use research in the life sciences. The board plays an advisory role in biological research that has legitimate scientific purposes but that may also pose a threat to public health and/or national security. The U.S. Department of Commerce Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) oversees exports and technology transfer from the United States to other nations. The BIS is responsible for regulating the export of sensitive goods and technologies, enforcing export control, and cooperating with and assisting other countries on export control and strategic trade issues. In addition, BIS helps U.S. industry to comply with international armscontrol agreements.

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