Dual-use research regulations risk stifling science without boosting security

Researchers have developed a new methodology to systematically identify "dual-use research" – studies that could benefit humanity but also pose security risks. The findings, published in the journal Science by KAIST professor Kwon Suk-bum, highlight that such research significantly influences subsequent scientific advancements.

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Dual-use research provides the core knowledge base for scientific development.

The study analyzed over 600,000 patent-cited research papers. It found that dual-use research consistently has a higher scientific impact than non-dual-use research, suggesting it provides a crucial knowledge base for scientific progress. This challenges the notion that regulating such research is solely a security concern.

The research also noted a shift in the landscape of dual-use research. While the proportion of this research involving the U.S. federal government decreased from 41% in 1981 to 22% in 2005, the involvement of foreign institutions increased from 35% to 54% during the same period. This indicates that U.S. regulations might be shrinking the scope of government-involved dual-use research domestically, while similar high-impact research emerges internationally.

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A country's intensified regulation alone can disproportionately restrict research with high scientific impact domestically, while failing to prevent the development of overseas research of similar importance.

Professor Kwon emphasized the need for international cooperation and balanced policy design to achieve both scientific advancement and national security. He warned that unilateral regulatory tightening by one country could disproportionately restrict impactful domestic research without preventing similar advancements abroad. The findings suggest that existing regulations may not adequately protect national security while also risking the stifling of scientific development.

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To achieve both scientific development and national security, international cooperation and balanced policy design are necessary.