Ethics, Regulation, and Governance in Dual-Use Research: A Systematic Review

This systematic review explores dual-use research challenges, synthesizing insights on ethical, regulatory, and governance aspects. Dual-use research, with its potential for both beneficial and harmful applications, demands careful examination to balance innovation and public safety. This review follows the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) methodology, analyzing 28 articles sourced from Web of Science (WOS), Scopus, PubMed, and Sage databases. The analysis identifies three themes: (1) Ethics and philosophical perspectives, (2) Regulatory frameworks and export control mechanisms, and (3) Technological applications and governance approaches. The findings emphasize the critical need for ethical education, collaborative governance, and adaptive regulatory frameworks to address dual-use risks. Key challenges include inconsistent regulatory definitions, fragmented implementation, and gaps in international cooperation. By integrating ethical considerations into research practices and aligning regulatory efforts globally, the study highlights pathways to enhance governance and reduce misuse risks. This review provides actionable insights for policymakers, researchers, and institutions, advancing the discourse on responsibly managing dual-use innovations.