Balancing Security and Openness for Critical Technologies: Challenges for French and European Research
While matters related to research security and international partnerships in critical domains are certainly not new, they have become increasingly central to governments, research institutions and industry since the turn of the 2020s.
Critical technologies have security and economic implications, and by definition concern science and technology fields that are constantly evolving. For governments and industry alike, they raise questions about their ability to anticipate and manage the potential repercussions of exploiting research results. Research into critical technologies thus finds itself at the heart of a dilemma, between the field of scientific research, which is intrinsically open and characterized by internationalization and cooperation, and an agenda of national security and competitiveness, which requires placing limits on openness.
The European Union (EU), France and other member states, as well as in the United States, have put research security and partnerships on their agendas, following the identification of increased economic and geopolitical risks. These risks particularly concern research links with China and Russia. As a result, over the last three years or so, we have seen a strengthening of research security measures, to combat foreign interference and the unwanted transfer of knowledge in areas deemed critical. Scientific and technological diplomacy is also being rethought, both at the level of the EU and its member states. International cooperation in research is increasingly seen as a means of strengthening political ties, as part of a strategy of influence and strategic partnerships with like-minded countries. Critical and emerging technologies, such as artificial intelligence (AI) and quantum technologies, are at the heart of these new partnerships.
Last but not least, research ecosystems in critical technologies themselves are evolving, and the study recalls that companies are playing an increasingly central role in AI and quantum technology research. This state of affairs limits the scope of government action in terms of research security, as well as in the choice of international partnerships in research in critical domains.
This study is also available in French: Concilier sécurité et ouverture dans les technologies critiques. Enjeux pour la recherche française et européenne.
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Balancing Security and Openness for Critical Technologies: Challenges for French and European Research
Author(s)
Alice PANNIER
Former Associate Research Fellow, Former Head of Ifri's Center for Geopolitics of Technology, Ifri
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Center for Geopolitics of Technology
Artificial intelligence (AI), 5G, cybersecurity, robotics, semiconductors, space... Technology, especially in the digital domain, is now deeply affecting all human activities and, by extension, international relations. The resulting political, strategic, economic and social issues manifest themselves at multiple political scales involving states, international organizations and private companies. The dynamics of international competition and cooperation are transformed.
It is to respond to these challenges that Ifri is launching the Geopolitics of Technology program in the fall of 2020, which builds on the work it already carried out on these subjects for several years.
The program takes a resolutely European approach to international issues related to so-called critical technologies. Its work is organized around four cross-cutting themes:
- Power: redistributions of power caused by new technologies, in particular digital; military and dual innovations; transformations of international competition;
- Sovereignty: definition of critical infrastructures and technologies; industrial and innovation policies in strategic sectors; opportunities and risks associated with international value chains;
- Governance: ethical and legal issues; interactions between companies, states, international organizations and users; public-private partnerships and GovTech;
- Society: political and social impacts of technological innovations; risks and opportunities for the future of work, health, the fight against climate change; connectivity and economic development.
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