What is Dual-use?
Dual-use goods, technology, or software refer to items that primarily serve civilian purposes, but whose technical parameters and properties also enable military application. These can include standard commercially available technologies and materials whose misuse could jeopardize international security, for instance in the development of weapons or military systems.
What falls into this category
Dual-use items cover a relatively broad spectrum of products. They most commonly include:
- Advanced electronics and telecommunications systems,
- encryption software and cybersecurity technologies,
- drones as well as aviation, space, and navigation components,
- specific chemicals, toxins, and biological materials,
- specialized materials, machinery, lasers, and sensors.
Regulations and restrictions for businesses
The manufacturing and especially the export of dual-use items are subject to strict regulatory control. Companies wishing to export these technologies outside the European Union must meet legislative requirements and obtain the necessary export license from government authorities (in the Czech Republic, these authorization licenses are issued by the Ministry of Industry and Trade). These measures aim to prevent the proliferation of dangerous technologies to high-risk destinations and to maintain global stability.
Relevance for grant projects
The concept of dual-use is also critical when preparing project proposals and applying for financial support from European and national funds. In subsidy programs focused on research, development, and innovation, applicants previously had to demonstrate that their project was primarily civilian in nature. Following the onset of the war in Ukraine, this dynamic began to shift, and with the launch of the STEP platform, defense and dual-use projects are now conversely prioritized.
