News
Security Improvements through research, technology and innovation (SIRIO)
Identification of emerging security risks in biotechnology
Security improvements through research, technology and innovation (SIRIO)
Identification of emerging security risks in biotechnology
Palais des Nations, Geneva, 14 July 2017. On 14 July 2017, the United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute (UNICRI) organized a meeting at the Palais des Nations (Geneva) within the framework of its SIRIO initiative. The meeting was attended by a select group of international experts coming from the fields of life sciences, law enforcement and supply chain security.
The aim of the meeting was to review and validate several risk scenarios developed by UNICRI involving the possible misuse of advances in biotechnology over the short-, medium- and long-term.
Following the presentation of each risk scenario, meeting participants analysed and provided feedback on its feasibility, based on the state of art of each technology; the relative ease with which different technologies and materials can be accessed by hypothetical perpetrator/s; the level of organization perpetrator/s need to act; the regulatory aspects or technological measures that could prevent the scenarios from unfolding; as well as any potential vulnerabilities that could be exploited by the perpetrator/s.
The experts also provided suggestions on how the different scenarios could be presented and tailored for a more fruitful discussion with technology providers and policy-makers to identify areas that could be reinforced through technological or other solutions. As a next step within the SIRIO initiative, UNICRI will update the scenarios based on the feedback and organize an event with policy-makers and industry representatives to explore possible actions that could be taken to mitigate the possibilities for misuse.
For more information, please contact Mr. Francesco Marelli, Head of Programme, CBRN Risk Mitigation and Security Governance. E-mail: marelli@unicri.it
Security improvements through research, technology and innovation (SIRIO)
Identification of emerging security risks in biotechnology
Palais des Nations, Geneva, 14 July 2017. On 14 July 2017, the United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute (UNICRI) organized a meeting at the Palais des Nations (Geneva) within the framework of its SIRIO initiative. The meeting was attended by a select group of international experts coming from the fields of life sciences, law enforcement and supply chain security.
The aim of the meeting was to review and validate several risk scenarios developed by UNICRI involving the possible misuse of advances in biotechnology over the short-, medium- and long-term.
Following the presentation of each risk scenario, meeting participants analysed and provided feedback on its feasibility, based on the state of art of each technology; the relative ease with which different technologies and materials can be accessed by hypothetical perpetrator/s; the level of organization perpetrator/s need to act; the regulatory aspects or technological measures that could prevent the scenarios from unfolding; as well as any potential vulnerabilities that could be exploited by the perpetrator/s.
The experts also provided suggestions on how the different scenarios could be presented and tailored for a more fruitful discussion with technology providers and policy-makers to identify areas that could be reinforced through technological or other solutions. As a next step within the SIRIO initiative, UNICRI will update the scenarios based on the feedback and organize an event with policy-makers and industry representatives to explore possible actions that could be taken to mitigate the possibilities for misuse.
For more information, please contact Mr. Francesco Marelli, Head of Programme, CBRN Risk Mitigation and Security Governance. E-mail: marelli@unicri.it