Indian Strategic Studies: Developing an actionable framework to guide promotion and protection policies for emerging technologies
AI Analysis
A workshop hosted by the Atlantic Council and SCSP focused on developing a framework for US policymakers to prioritize emerging technologies amidst competition with China. The framework utilizes technological, rival, and domestic factors to evaluate technologies like commercial drones, EVs, and genomic sequencing. The goal is to balance protecting US technological leadership with promoting domestic innovation.
Key Takeaways
- The US-PRC technology competition is driving policy debates regarding technology promotion and protection.
- The SCSP’s Strategic Evaluation Framework was used to assess emerging technology priorities.
- Commercial drones were one of the five technologies specifically examined in the workshop.
- Policy tools for protection include export controls, investment screening, and sanctions.
- Policy tools for promotion include R&D funding, patents, and grants.
Why It Matters
This framework signals a heightened US focus on maintaining a competitive edge in critical technologies, including drone technology. The identified policy tools suggest potential restrictions on drone-related exports to China and increased investment in US drone capabilities. This will likely impact global drone markets and accelerate the development of counter-drone technologies.
Indian Strategic Studies: Developing an actionable framework to guide promotion and protection policies for emerging technologies
Hanna Dohmen
In February 2024, the Atlantic Council Global China Hub (AC GCH) and the Special Competitive Studies Project (SCSP) convened experts and policymakers in a private workshop to test an actionable framework designed to guide policymakers in identifying emerging technology priorities. Using SCSP’s Strategic Evaluation Framework, participants discussed five technology case studies (commercial drones, electric vehicles, genomic sequencers, Internet of Things, and mobile applications) based on technological, rival, and domestic factors. This memo summarizes insights gathered during the workshop.
Strategic context
The ongoing technology competition with the People’s Republic of China (PRC) is at the forefront of policy debates in the United States and globally. It is widely understood in policy circles that technology competition involves both protecting US leadership and promoting US innovation in emerging technologies. Protecting US technological strengths entails limiting or cutting off adversaries’ access to, and slowing adversaries’ progress in, certain technologies that could undermine or threaten US national security and technological as well as economic competitiveness through tools like inbound and outbound investment screening, export controls, and sanctions. Promoting US innovation entails incentivizing and advancing US technological progress by fostering research and innovation through tools such as federal research and development (R&D) funding, patents, and grants.