Discussion Paper: "Technology Impact Assessment for Peace and Stability: A Comparative Study on Australia and India" June 2025
Highlights
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"Bilateral technology assessments between emerging strategic partners like Australia and India can help bridge geopolitical divides while advancing shared interests in tech governance"
(Emphasizes the diplomatic value of joint assessments) -
"Critical technology cooperation must involve granular analysis of risks to peace/stability, such as quantum sensing applications in military radar systems"
(Highlights need for technical specificity in assessments) -
"Trade wars are increasingly tech wars at their core, requiring new frameworks for managing competitive innovation without destabilizing international relations"
(Links economic competition to tech policy) -
"Effective technology assessment requires tripartite collaboration between governments, private tech companies, and academic researchers"
(Identifies key stakeholder groups) -
"Military applications of emerging technologies demand separate assessment frameworks from civilian uses due to different risk profiles"
(Calls for bifurcated assessment approaches) -
"Semiconductor supply chains and 6G infrastructure require coordinated Indo-Pacific assessments to prevent fragmentation of technical standards"
(Prioritises regional tech infrastructure) -
"Export controls on AI chips demonstrate how technology impact assessments must account for geopolitical alignment between private sector and national governments"
(Notes public-private nexus in tech policy) -
"Multilateral technology assessments through forums like the Quad could help harmonize approaches between democracies facing similar challenges"
(Advocates for institutionalised cooperation) -
"Biotechnology and green hydrogen require anticipatory governance frameworks that balance innovation incentives with stability risks"
(Emphasizes proactive policy design) -
"Cyber-physical systems like subsea cables demand joint vulnerability assessments between maritime partners to ensure critical infrastructure resilience"
(Identifies specific infrastructure priorities)
These insights reflect the report's emphasis on collaborative governance models, technical specificity in risk analysis, and alignment of strategic interests between Australia and India in critical technology sectors. The project positions bilateral assessments as building blocks for broader Indo-Pacific tech governance frameworks.
Participate in our activities
The team is inviting stakeholders from Australia and India who would like to participate in related workshops and webinars. We also invite specialists working on technology assessments in other countries to convey their interest. For further details and to participate in the workshops, please reach out to the project team by email karthik@klude.in or greg.austin@socialcyber.co. Or simply submit your details below to receive updates on our events and publications.
The Social Cyber Institute (SCI) is pleased to host this sign-up page on behalf of the project team of nine which includes six Fellows or executives in SCI.