Call e bandi
Call for abstracts | Dual-Use Technologies in Academic Research: Interdisciplinary Perspectives
The call for abstracts is now open for the first annual THESEUS Conference, “Dual-Use Technologies in Academic Research: Interdisciplinary Perspectives”, organized by the THESEUS Study Centre – Technology, Society and Humanity at Politecnico di Torino. The conference will take place on 27–28 November 2026 in Turin, Italy.
The event aims to foster interdisciplinary dialogue on dual-use technologies developed within academic research. While such technologies can generate significant benefits for society, they may also be repurposed for military or harmful applications, raising important questions about research responsibility, academic freedom, ethics, governance, and public policy.
The conference welcomes contributions from engineering, social sciences and humanities, and Science and Technology Studies (STS), as well as related disciplines. Topics of interest include, among others, dual-use research of concern (DURC), ethical and societal implications of emerging technologies, governance and regulation of research, academic freedom and security concerns, industry–academia collaborations, research dissemination, and the economic and political dimensions of dual-use innovation.
Topics of interest include (but are not limited to):
· Conceptualizations of dual use and misuse of research results
· Dual-use research of concern (DURC) in academic contexts
· Ethical and societal implications of dual-use technologies
· Governance, and institutional oversight of research
· Academic freedom, security concerns, and state regulation
· Collaboration with industry, government, and international partners
· Dissemination, publication, and responsibility in research communication
· Economic models of dual-use innovation, knowledge diffusion, and R&D incentives
· Trade, export controls, and sanctions in dual-use goods
· Dual use regulation, industrial policy, and firm behavior
· National security, defense economics, and spillovers to civilian markets
The conference encourages interdisciplinary approaches and contributions from scholars at all career stages.
Abstracts Submission
We invite submissions of abstracts for presentations within the conference tracks to the dedicated email. Abstracts should be no more than 500 words and clearly articulate the research question(s)/hypothesis, methodology, key findings, and implications of the work. Proponents should also include a short cv (not more than 80 words).
Important Dates
Abstract Submission Deadline: 31 July 2026
Notification of Acceptance: 20 September 2026
Conference Dates: 27-28 November 2026
Scientific Organizing Committee:
Marco Cantamessa (Politecnico di Torino)
Anna D’Ambrosio (Politecnico di Torino)
Roberto Lalli (Theseus, Politecnico di Torino)
Alvise Mattozzi (Theseus, Politecnico di Torino)
Francesco Nicoli (Theseus, Politecnico di Torino)
Marzia Quaglio (Politecnico di Torino)
Stefano Sacchi (Theseus, Politecnico di Torino)
Giuseppe Tipaldo (Theseus, Politecnico di Torino)
Vera Tripodi (Theseus, Politecnico di Torino)
More information regarding the conferece are available at this link.
The event aims to foster interdisciplinary dialogue on dual-use technologies developed within academic research. While such technologies can generate significant benefits for society, they may also be repurposed for military or harmful applications, raising important questions about research responsibility, academic freedom, ethics, governance, and public policy.
The conference welcomes contributions from engineering, social sciences and humanities, and Science and Technology Studies (STS), as well as related disciplines. Topics of interest include, among others, dual-use research of concern (DURC), ethical and societal implications of emerging technologies, governance and regulation of research, academic freedom and security concerns, industry–academia collaborations, research dissemination, and the economic and political dimensions of dual-use innovation.
Topics of interest include (but are not limited to):
· Conceptualizations of dual use and misuse of research results
· Dual-use research of concern (DURC) in academic contexts
· Ethical and societal implications of dual-use technologies
· Governance, and institutional oversight of research
· Academic freedom, security concerns, and state regulation
· Collaboration with industry, government, and international partners
· Dissemination, publication, and responsibility in research communication
· Economic models of dual-use innovation, knowledge diffusion, and R&D incentives
· Trade, export controls, and sanctions in dual-use goods
· Dual use regulation, industrial policy, and firm behavior
· National security, defense economics, and spillovers to civilian markets
The conference encourages interdisciplinary approaches and contributions from scholars at all career stages.
Abstracts Submission
We invite submissions of abstracts for presentations within the conference tracks to the dedicated email. Abstracts should be no more than 500 words and clearly articulate the research question(s)/hypothesis, methodology, key findings, and implications of the work. Proponents should also include a short cv (not more than 80 words).
Important Dates
Abstract Submission Deadline: 31 July 2026
Notification of Acceptance: 20 September 2026
Conference Dates: 27-28 November 2026
Scientific Organizing Committee:
Marco Cantamessa (Politecnico di Torino)
Anna D’Ambrosio (Politecnico di Torino)
Roberto Lalli (Theseus, Politecnico di Torino)
Alvise Mattozzi (Theseus, Politecnico di Torino)
Francesco Nicoli (Theseus, Politecnico di Torino)
Marzia Quaglio (Politecnico di Torino)
Stefano Sacchi (Theseus, Politecnico di Torino)
Giuseppe Tipaldo (Theseus, Politecnico di Torino)
Vera Tripodi (Theseus, Politecnico di Torino)
More information regarding the conferece are available at this link.