Introduction
As a result of the resurgence of geopolitical tensions, the debate about the applications of dual-use technology is intensifying. The core issue founders, tech entrepreneurs, venture capitalists (VCs), and limited partner investors (LPs) are examining is whether commercial technologies should increasingly be re-used for military purposes. Traditionally, the majority of investors (including limited partners) have prohibited dual-use tech in their agreements. However, the rapidly growing dual-use market, with its substantial addressable size and growth potential, is compelling all stakeholders to reconsider this stance. The pressure for innovations, capital returns and Return On Investment (ROI) is driving the need for a solution.
These discussions are fraught with moral complexity, but they also present an opportunity to rethink the dual-use paradigm and foster investment in technologies aimed at supporting peace. A new concept of "triple use"— where technology serves commercial, defense, and peacebuilding purposes — may offer an innovative and more positive avenue for founders, investors and society to explore. This additional re-use, which remains in an incipient state, is increasingly being referred to as PeaceTech. By integrating terms dedicated to PeaceTech in new and existing investment and LP agreements, tech companies, founders and venture capital investors can be also required to apply their technology for peacebuilding purposes. This approach can expand the applications of emerging technologies to also include conflict prevention, reconstruction or any humanitarian aspects.
However, current efforts to use technologies for peacebuilding are impeded by various obstacles, including a lack of awareness within the tech sector and among investors, limited commercial interest, disparities in technical capacity, privacy concerns, international relations and political complexities. In the below we examine some of these challenges, while also exploring certain avenues for overcoming them — including approaching technologies for peace as a “triple use” application. We will especially try to identify examples of how tech companies, tech entrepreneurs, accelerators, and tech investors including VCs and LPs can commercially benefit and support “triple use” technologies. Ultimately, we argue, the vast potential — largely untapped — of “triple use” technologies calls for a new wave of tech ecosystem transformation and public and private investments as well as the development of a new field of research.
The Landscape of Dual-Use Technology
Historically, dual-use technologies have been developed primarily with military applications in mind. Innovations such as the internet, originally a project of the U.S. Department of Defense, and GPS, which was developed for military navigation, are prime examples. Over time, these technologies have been adapted for civilian use, often leading to significant advancements for various areas of public life, including transportation, communication, and healthcare. More recently the catalyst of innovation and dual-use flipped, i.e. technologies initially developed for civilian purposes are increasingly being applied for military use, a trend highlighted during the Ukrainian War.
The field of dual-use is littered with moral dilemmas for the majority of investors including tech angels, family offices, venture capital funds, private equities, corporate ventures, university endowments, private foundations, trusts, pensions funds and many others. Perhaps foremost among these dilemmas is the question of how to maximize the benefits of any given technology while minimizing its potential harms and misuse. To address this, we need a strong shift in perspective and framing of dual-use, and a new recognition that the same technologies that may enhance offensive military capabilities should be leveraged to address global challenges such as security, conflict, poverty, disease and especially guaranteeing basic universal human rights and safeguarding human dignity.
The growing field of PeaceTech can itself be helpful in this regard, by highlighting positive examples for new breakthroughs. Some recent examples brought to the fore by the Kluz Prize for PeaceTech are illustrative. Project Didi, a private company, uses machine learning, big data and artificial intelligence to provide data-driven analysis to all stakeholders in various conflict zones; most recently, it has been deployed in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. The winner of last year's Kluz Prize for PeaceTech, Commit Global, is another good example. It created, for instance, an integrated digital infrastructure to support Ukrainian refugees by bringing together aid management solutions, information about health services, and other resources onto a single platform. By some estimates, the platform has helped create conditions for safe transit and support for over 1.6 million refugees.
Challenges for the “Triple Use of Technology”
The examples above provide powerful evidence for the many potential positive uses of dual purpose. However, many challenges remain to achieving this potential, and more generally for the development of PeaceTech.
Awareness of PeaceTech Applications
The tech community often struggles to understand how the tech ecosystem can be an active player in peacebuilding. To effectively integrate technology into peacebuilding efforts, a concerted movement within the tech community is necessary. This involves raising awareness among tech entrepreneurs, tech engineers, programmers, startups, Big-Tech as well as venture capital funds and their LP investors about the potential and powerful impact their innovations can have on global peace and stability. Initiatives could include from one side implementation of special clauses and terms in investment and LP agreements, to tech and investors workshops, conferences and collaborative projects that bring together tech and investment professionals, peacebuilders, and policymakers, but at least and foremost policies and regulations presented by states and international organizations. Building awareness among tech angel investors, venture capital and private equity firms and their LPs, corporate ventures, family offices, university endowments, private foundations, trustees and private and public listed corporations is critical for capital allocations and strategic decisions for “triple use” tech. Also, educational programs focused on PeaceTech should be developed and integrated into tech research and academic centers, at universities and coding boot camps to instill a sense of social and human responsibility from the outset.
Commercial Interest and Incentives
One of the most frequently cited challenges in repurposing dual-use technology for peace and humanitarian applications is a purported lack of commercial interest and incentives. Military contracts and defense budgets often provide substantial financial incentives for tech companies, whereas peace-oriented projects may not offer the same level of profitability or ROI for the venture capital investors. This discrepancy makes it difficult to attract investment and resources for peaceful applications. Today, we believe that there is an attractive political climate for PeaceTech and the entire global tech industry is ready for a big shift to use PeaceTech.
The commercial challenges for the tech ecosystem are real — but perhaps not insurmountable. In fact, Shane Ray Martin, a venture capitalist and entrepreneur, has recently argued that the potential size of the PeaceTech market could be as large as $100 billion. He argues that developing a healthy commercial environment for PeaceTech requires developing a dedicated venture capital ecosystem, establishing sector-specific incubators, and deploying a host of incentives to attract top talent to the field.
Technical Capacity
One of the primary challenges faced by PeaceTech initiatives is the widespread global disparity in technical capacity in the peacebuilding sector, which includes both access to technology itself and also availability of human technical and engineering skills and capacity. The first challenge is evident in limited access in many conflict affected regions to essential technological infrastructure, such as reliable internet connectivity, computers, and modern communication tools. In addition, there is often a shortage of individuals with the necessary skills to use, maintain, and innovate with the types of tools that could help support peace. Educational and training opportunities may be scarce or inaccessible in regions destabilized by conflict, and the resulting skills gap can impede the implementation and effectiveness of PeaceTech.
Addressing these challenges requires a multifaceted approach. Enhancing access to technology can be achieved through investments in infrastructure, either through private funding or, often, the use of public-private partnerships. Concurrently, human capacity shortcomings can be addressed through a variety of educational and training initiatives — e.g., establishing local tech hubs, access to online courses, and mentorship programs.
Privacy and Other Ethical Concerns
Privacy and other ethical concerns represent significant challenges for PeaceTech initiatives. The collection and use of personal data always raises critical issues related to data privacy and security, but the ramifications can be more severe in conflict-affected regions, where the misuse of sensitive information can literally have life or death consequences. Other related ethical concerns include issues of consent, representation, and potential biases in technology (especially with the rise of AI). Again, these concerns can all be magnified in conflict areas, where populations and communities begin from a position of disadvantage. It is essential for PeaceTech solutions to be sensitive to local contexts, cultures, and languages, in order to avoid reinforcing existing biases.
Possible solutions include the development of robust data governance frameworks, clear protocols for data handling, the use of privacy-enhancing technologies, and an emphasis on an overall culture of responsible data use throughout the data lifecycle. More broadly, a number of ethical concerns can be mitigated through inclusive and participatory approaches, ensuring local communities are involved in the design and implementation of PeaceTech solutions.
Coordinating with Governments, States or International Organizations
By its very nature, PeaceTech requires working with governments, nation-states, or international organizations, a process often complicated by politics and the unstable nature of conflict zones. In conflict-affected regions, governments may be unstable or lack legitimacy. In addition, political dynamics can play a role, with governments potentially viewing PeaceTech projects as threats to their authority. The whole picture is complicated by the need to include multiple stakeholders, including the public sector, private sector, and local authorities, civil society and NGOs. Alignment of incentives and goals can be extremely difficult, and thus represent one of the key challenges to the inclusiveness and long-term sustainability of PeaceTech initiatives. Therefore, it is important to pre-recognize who has authority and access to PeaceTech technologies and how to use them responsibly. Every technology in the wrong hands is dangerous.
Addressing these challenges is not easy, but establishing strong, transparent partnerships and relationships of trust among all stakeholders will be key. It is also essential to include and engage government officials — and other stakeholders — at various stages of initiatives, from planning to implementation. Technology itself can play a role in this regard, for example through the use of digital platforms to align stakeholders and communication or information-dissemination tools such as online collaboration platforms.
Building and accelerating “Triple Use” Technologies for Peacebuilding
As mentioned earlier, the concept of “triple use” technology — encompassing defense, commercial, and peace applications — emphasizes how cutting-edge tech can be used for peacebuilding by making it a requirement when signing dual-use applications. By leveraging advancements in AI, Big Data, space, robotics, cybersecurity, digital health, and many other innovative technologies, the tech ecosystem can create new trends and tools for the next generation of peacebuilders. Establishing PeaceTech as a new industry and an impactful area in global geopolitics can unlock the vast potential of dual-use technologies while minimizing their harms. By integrating PeaceTech into defense and commercial technologies the tech ecosystem can play a pivotal role in fostering global peace and stability.
Encouraging the tech community to explore these possibilities requires building a long-term vision and PeaceTech movement that creates impact beyond investing, fostering a culture of innovation geared towards common good, empowering human flourishing and technological development, and shaping the future of humanity and the world.
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Artur Kluz is Founder & Chief Executive Officer, Kluz Ventures
Dr. Stefaan Verhulst is Co-Founder of The GovLab (NYC) and The DataTank (Brussels) and Research Professor, New York University (NYU)