XVI Meeting of the Chaudfontaine Group

Introduction
The XVIth Meeting of the Chaudfontaine Group was held from 7 to 9 June 2026 to explore the nexus between trade control on dual-use items and research security.

In an increasingly complex geopolitical and geoeconomic environment, the European Union has become more aware of its vulnerabilities, as highlighted by events such as the COVID-19 pandemic, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and a rise in cyber-attacks and foreign interference. In response, the European Commission and the High Representative adopted the European Economic Security Strategy in June 2023, aiming to strengthen the EU’s resilience, safeguard its economic security, and preserve its technological leadership. Among the risks identified, particular attention is given to threats related to technology security and the potential leakage of sensitive technologies. Building on this framework, the Council of the European Union adopted a Recommendation on enhancing research security in October 2023. Both the Commission and the Council stress that critical and dual-use technologies play a decisive role in economic competitiveness and military capabilities, making the research and innovation sector a key target for malicious foreign actors. This sector’s core characteristics—openness, academic freedom, and international collaboration—also make it particularly vulnerable to the misuse of knowledge and technology, including for purposes such as surveillance, repression, or the strengthening of foreign military capacities.

Against this backdrop, the Chaudfontaine Group gathered to examine convergences and divergences between “export/trade control” and “research security”, in order to identify potential synergies and complementarities for their implementation, notably for the management of research activities involving dual-use goods and technology, that can reinforce both policy areas.

The event was organised by the University of Liège’s European Studies Unit (ESU) and the European Union Export Control Programme for Dual-Use Goods (EU P2P – EU CBRN Centres of Excellence Project 103).
Twenty-four experts and practitioners from all around Europe—originating from universities, research organisations, public authorities (European, national and regional), and industry—as well as the Republic of Korea, gathered in Belgium to brainstorm on the topic.

Methodology
The participants were invited to examine, first, the specificities of export control of dual-use items and research security, and then, to identify the common elements between the two policy areas.
Such a scrutiny was structured around the following five key concepts:

1. Objective
2. Scope (in terms of items, activities, and actors)
3. Principles
4. Normative instruments (organised along two analytical axes: the distinction between legally binding instruments and policy instruments, and the distinction between instruments specifically dedicated to that policy area and those that are relevant to it)
5. Tools

A brief section was dedicated to the establishment of a shared understanding of these five key concepts and to confirm their consistent relevance across the two policy areas.

Keynote speech by Dr. Christos Charatsis
(Export Control Policy Officer at International Science and Technology Center – ISTC, in Kazakhstan)
The keynote highlighted a shift towards a more assertive EU industrial and technological policy aimed at strengthening resilience and strategic autonomy. It emphasised the central role of dual‑use innovation, supported by closer civil‑military integration, coordinated funding, and faster scaling of technologies—with priority given to critical and emerging technologies, notably AI, semiconductors, quantum, and biotechnology, in a context shaped by geopolitical tensions.
The speaker also underlined the emergence of research security as a key policy domain, focused on managing risks related to international cooperation, such as knowledge leakage, foreign interference, and misuse of research outcomes, while preserving openness. Despite progress, challenges remain, notably the lack of harmonised guidance and the need to strengthen institutional risk management practices.
The keynote highlighted that, for some countries, economic security—encompassing research security—has become the main entry point, expanding beyond traditional non-proliferation concerns, with export control commitments increasingly framed within research security.
Finally, the keynote stressed the growing convergence between research security and export control frameworks, particularly in relation to risk assessment, due diligence, and the protection of sensitive technologies, pointing towards a more integrated approach to safeguarding the EU’s innovation ecosystem.

Third country’s perspective: the case of South Korea
The presentation emphasised that, also from South Korea’s perspective, export control and research security increasingly intersect, as both address similar practical risk points such as international collaboration, technology transfer, data sharing, and foreign participation in research. However, they differ in nature: export control operates as a legal authorisation system governing transfers, while research security functions as a broader institutional framework for managing risks and protecting researchers and research assets.
The speaker highlighted that export control is not limited to technical classification, but already incorporates risk-based assessments, including end-use, end-user, and potential misuse, bringing it closer to research security approaches. At the same time, research security extends beyond export control compliance to cover issues such as foreign interference, conflicts of interest, and undue influence in collaborative environments.
A key challenge lies in implementation, particularly in coordinating multiple legal frameworks and institutional responsibilities within universities. The Korean model illustrates how specialised agencies can translate regulatory and policy requirements into practical tools, guidance, and workflows for academia.
Overall, the presentation underlined that while convergence between the two policy areas is real and growing, maintaining their distinction remains important. A more integrated and operational approach—linking export control compliance with research security practices—is necessary to enable safe and sustainable international research collaboration.

Collective discussion
Discussions within the expert group highlighted the relatively mature and well-established legal nature of export controls, which provided a clear analytical baseline. In particular, significant attention was devoted to clarifying the scope, instruments, and principles governing export controls in an academic context.
Building on this foundation, the discussion then turned to research security, with the aim of identifying points of convergence and divergence between the two domains across each of the five concepts. A central challenge consisted in navigating the area at the intersection of the two domains, thereby highlighting an enduring lack of clarity surrounding the definition and boundaries of research security.
A general understanding nevertheless emerged: within the academic context, export controls of dual-use items can be understood as a subset of the broader research security framework. Nevertheless, while the two frameworks are closely interconnected and mutually reinforcing, they remain distinct in nature. In particular, export controls retain their specific legally binding character and operate according to different principles—most notably a system of prior authorisation for transfers (although they also share certain underlying principles). This differentiates them from the broader approach of research security, which is grounded in a much wider risk-based assessment and a logic of shared responsibility among stakeholders.

The seminar therefore highlighted the need for continued dialogue and clearer guidance on how these frameworks interact. As universities navigate increasingly complex international research environments, understanding the relationship between export controls and research security will be essential to ensuring both compliance and the responsible advancement of knowledge.

Forthcoming publication
Building on the discussions and outcomes of the seminar, a publication will be released in the coming months and made available on the ESU website.