Military or Civilian? Europe’s Pivot on the ‘Dual-Use Dilemma’

“Military or Civilian? Europe’s Pivot on the ‘Dual-Use Dilemma’” examines how rising geopolitical tension and “hybrid war” tactics—ranging from drone incursions and cyberattacks to sabotage and disinformation—are reshaping Europe’s approach to innovation. Faced with growing threats from Russia, uncertainty about the transatlantic alliance, and competition from China, European leaders are dismantling a decades-old firewall between civilian and defense research. In 2025, the European Commission broke with long-standing precedent by opening its flagship Horizon research program to “dual-use” technologies—tools that can serve both civilian and military purposes, such as AI, drones, encryption, biotech, and advanced manufacturing. Supporters argue that this shift will strengthen Europe’s security, revive its industrial base, and unlock innovation through spillover between civil and defense sectors, pointing to models like DARPA and to past breakthroughs such as GPS and the internet.