Recent advances in synthetic- and nanobiotechnology offer great promises for human health, environmental protection, and renewable energy sources. These technologies will make it possible to bioengineer new or altered microorganisms, biomolecular components and devices as well as bio-technical hybrids that perform specific functions, such as the production of pharmaceutical drugs, the destruction of cancer cells, the remediation of environmental pollutants, or the generation of biofuels. There exists a great overlap between these two innovations, which are expected to largely converge and to unfold a significant transforming potential within the coming decades.

As with every new technology, predictable and unforeseeable risks for society are created, ranging from unintended harmful consequences for human health and the environment (biosafety) to the deliberate misuse to cause harm (biosecurity). The disciplines are still in their infancy and the majority of work that is being done is on the level of basic research. The technical hurdles are enormous and the required know-how is still concentrated on a small scientific community. With the current pace of developments, though, this could change within the coming years, which requires that the potential dangers are addressed early while facilitating the unhindered development of beneficial applications.

The United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy (A/RES/60/288), unanimously adopted by the General Assembly on the 8th September 2006, promotes the importance of bringing together, within the framework of the United Nations, the major biotechnology stakeholders, including industry, the scientific community, civil society and governments, into a common programme aimed at ensuring that advances in biotechnology are not used for terrorist or other criminal purposes but for the public good.

UNICRI’s project focuses on present and future (bio-) security implications of advances in synthetic biology and nanobiotechnology. It examines the vast dual-use potential of these technology fields with a focus on their ability to enable the development of new or enhanced biological agents and weapons for criminal or terrorist purposes.

In a first step, the main objective of the project is to conduct a risk assessment of malevolent applications of synthetic- and nanobiotechnology under the broad involvement of bioscience and security experts as well as to propose possible response and mitigation measures. To achieve this objective, the Project will promote, facilitate and improve the exchange of information and knowledge between relevant stakeholders.

These activities will highlight a series of important emerging biological threats, identify areas which might require additional focus in the future and constitute an important step towards the consolidation of existing efforts in minimizing the risks of bioscientific advances, while ensuring that their great promises become reality.