The ‘Technical Briefs series on emerging technologies and the Biological Weapons Convention’ is a joint initiative led by UNIDIR and the Biological Weapons Convention Implementation Support Unit (BWC-ISU) at the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA).
The accelerating convergence of biology with digital, computational and other emerging technologies is reshaping how biological research is conducted, shared and governed. Advances across domains such as artificial intelligence, cybersecurity and quantum science are increasingly interconnected – creating new scientific opportunities while also introducing complex risks that transcend traditional boundaries. At a time when States parties are actively considering how to strengthen the convention’s capacity to monitor, assess and respond to these developments, this moment is particularly significant; never before have scientific innovation and global security been so closely intertwined.
The BWC Technical Briefs aim to contribute to this process by fostering science diplomacy by bringing together technical experts, diplomats and practitioners, and by providing clear, policy-relevant insights to support ongoing Working Group discussions and preparations for a more structured science and technology review under the convention.
Each session seeks to facilitate dialogue between scientific experts and diplomats, support the Friends of the Chair on Science and Technology in advancing discussions within the Working Group, and translate complex technical trends into policy-relevant options to inform efforts to strengthen the BWC and a potential future review mechanism for science and technology under the convention.
Further sessions will be announced in due course.