Geneva, 30 October 2025 – The United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research (UNIDIR) will convene its annual Innovations Dialogue, under the theme Neurotechnologies and their Implications for International Peace and Security. The event will take place on 24 November at the Centre International de Conférences Genève.
From cognitive enhancement tools to direct brain–computer interfaces, neurotechnologies are advancing at a pace that raises profound questions for international security, human rights, and arms control. The Innovations Dialogue 2025 aims to bring those questions into sharper focus: What happens when neurotechnology enters the military domain? How do we prevent misuse while promoting innovation? What governance models do we need to minimise risks?
We are entering an era where the human mind itself is becoming a domain of technological contestation. Neurotechnologies hold extraordinary promise, but they also carry risks for conflict if misused. Our work seeks to understand how to harness technology’s potential responsibly, so that innovation protects societies, instead of destabilizing them.
Robin Geiss, UNIDIR Director
This year’s programme features leading voices in neuroscience, law, ethics and security policy. Experts will explain what neurotechnologies are, where the field stands today, and how it might evolve in the coming years. Speakers will look at the risks these technologies may pose to people and how such risks could affect international peace and security.
The discussion will examine how neurotechnologies are already being explored for military use, why they may be attractive to defence actors, and what that could mean for global stability. It will also address what responsible governance might look like – how existing rules apply and what new approaches may be needed to manage the security and disarmament challenges these emerging technologies present.
The Innovations Dialogue is organized by UNIDIR’s Security and Technology Programme, which works to address global security challenges posed by emerging digital technologies, and is co-sponsored by the Czech Republic, the European Union, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Switzerland and Microsoft. Since 2019, this flagship event has served as a unique multistakeholder forum examining developments in science and technology that have significant implications for international peace and security.
For further information, please contact Claudia Marquina, UNIDIR Head of Communications at claudia.marquina@un.org.
About UNIDIR
The United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research (UNIDIR) is a voluntarily funded, autonomous institute within the United Nations. One of the few policy institutes worldwide focusing on disarmament, UNIDIR generates knowledge and promotes dialogue and action on disarmament and security. Based in Geneva, UNIDIR assists the international community to develop the practical, innovative ideas needed to find solutions to critical security problems. For more information, visit unidir.org.