The European Union (EU) wants to prevent various critical technologies such as chips, artificial intelligence, quantum and genetics from falling into the hands of rival countries in order to increase its economic security.

The EU Commission announced its recommendation for the critical technologies it wants to protect within the scope of the European economic security strategy.

Accordingly, a list was prepared taking into account various criteria such as the transformative nature and potential of technologies, their dual use as civilian and military, and the use of some technologies in a way that harms security or human rights.

Thus, 4 technology areas with the most sensitive and urgent risks regarding technology security and technology leakage were identified. These fields are listed as semiconductor, artificial intelligence, quantum technologies and biotechnologies.

Advanced semiconductor technologies included microelectronics, photonics, high-frequency chips, semiconductor manufacturing equipment.

Export control may be in question

High-performance computing, cloud data analysis, language and encryption, and object recognition were classified as artificial intelligence technologies.

Quantum technologies included elements such as quantum computing, quantum cryptography, and quantum communication sensing.

Fields such as genetic modification techniques, genome techniques and synthetic biology were also included in biotechnologies.

The Commission proposed to member countries to conduct risk assessments in these 4 critical technology areas by the end of the year. Following the collective risk assessment process, the commission is expected to take new initiatives in the spring of 2024.

Although his name is not mentioned in the decision, it is thought that the risk assessment in question targets rival countries, especially China. The EU may impose export controls in these areas in the future.