EU Ministers Urged Dual-Use Tech Support
A coalition of nations has requested that Framework Programme 10 integrate dual-use research for defense goals.
Updated on Sept. 28, 2026 in Artificial Intelligence
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Research ministers from the Nordics, Baltics, Poland, and Romania have requested that the European Parliament and European Commission prioritize dual-use research in the next Horizon Europe framework. The proposal aims to integrate dual-use capabilities by design to bolster European defense and competitiveness.
Why it matters
This shift aims to align research funding with security priorities by ensuring civil technologies developed under EU grants can contribute to defense capabilities. It represents a policy push to address European competitiveness concerns through more flexible, integrated funding mechanisms.
The proposal calls for implementing a dual-use by design approach in Framework Programme 10, following an agreement reached by the Council in June 2026. This would allow for dedicated funding calls and support for dual-use activities within open research competitions.
The players
Horizon Europe
The European Union's primary funding programme for research and innovation with a focus on competitive technology development.
European Parliament
The legislative body of the European Union currently negotiating the structure and funding priorities for the next framework cycle.
The details
Dual-use technology refers to systems, software, or scientific findings developed for civilian applications that can also be applied to defense or military purposes. By adopting a dual-use by design approach, the ministers seek to ensure that research projects are architected from the outset to support both civil and security-related end-goals. This policy change would move away from rigid silos that currently limit the utility of EU-funded research in the defense sector.
Timeline
June 2026: The Council reached an agreement regarding dual-use research.
September 28, 2026: Ministers sent a joint statement to the European Parliament and European Commission.
The Tech Race
The proposal marks a deliberate pivot from the current constraints of the Horizon Europe framework to better compete with global defense-industrial research models. It builds on the Council's June 2026 consensus to integrate dual-use capability as a core pillar of European technological sovereignty.
European research institutions and startups operating in the defense and dual-use space will likely see new, dedicated funding streams if the proposal is adopted for Framework Programme 10. The shift aims to accelerate the transition from early-stage research to actionable technology for both commercial and security markets.
The takeaway
This request highlights a deepening integration between civil scientific research and European defense strategy. Stakeholders should track the upcoming voting sessions by the Parliament's research committee to see if these dual-use provisions are formally written into the next framework.
What happens next
Members of the Parliament's research committee are expected to vote on their negotiating positions regarding Framework Programme 10 in upcoming sessions.
Further reading
For more on the regulatory environment surrounding emerging capabilities, visit Artificial Intelligence.
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