Dual-Use Innovation: How Military Tech Shaped the Modern World
By Normand Landry, Strategic Advisor – Innovation, Security and Defence, and François Provencher, Senior Director, Innovation and Technology, Innovitech.
As Canada and Québec renew their investments in the field of security and defence technologies, it is important to remember that many innovations shaping our daily lives originated in technologies initially developed for military purposes, later transferred to civilian applications.
Strategic and military imperatives often justify large-scale R&D investments without the need for short-term economic returns. This trend began during the Second World War and accelerated with the rise of the American military-industrial complex, continuing through the Cold War. Eventually, the emergence of civilian commercial markets helped accelerate the maturation of these technologies, dramatically reduce their production costs, and, in many cases, reintroduce them to benefit the defence and security sectors. Several examples illustrate how this dual-use model has unfolded:
Computers
Often considered the first general-purpose computer, ENIAC (Electronic Numerical Integrator and Computer) was funded by the U.S. Army in 1945 to compute artillery tables. In the 1950s, the U.S. Air Force developed the SAGE system (Semi-Automatic Ground Environment) to protect North American airspace from Soviet nuclear bombers. This required the development of computers with unprecedented complexity, such as the AN/FSQ-7 (computerized air defence command and control system). Designed by MIT and built by IBM, this project deeply influenced the evolution of modern computing and contributed to IBM’s commercial dominance for decades.
Microprocessors
The first microprocessor, the MP944, was developed between 1968 and 1970 for the F-14 Tomcat, a variable-geometry American fighter jet. It contained 74,442 transistors compared to Intel’s first commercial microprocessor, the 4004, launched in 1971 with only 2,300 transistors.
Internet
The Internet as we know it is a direct descendant of ARPANET (Advanced Research Projects Agency Network), a military network designed to ensure the resilience of U.S. electronic communications in the event of a nuclear attack, through a large number of distributed communication nodes across the country.
Other Obvious Examples
Some cases are widely recognized: radar, jet engines, GPS, space launchers, and satellites. Early civilian space programs largely relied on the repurposing of military ballistic technologies redirected toward orbital, scientific, or human spaceflight missions. GPS, for its part, was designed, and still operates as a navigation system for the U.S. armed forces.
A Less Obvious Example: The Hubble Space Telescope
Often regarded as the most important scientific instrument of all time, the Hubble Space Telescope is essentially a civilian, star-facing version of U.S. KH-11 reconnaissance satellites, first launched in 1976. While many details remain classified, strong similarities in known components (optics, mirror size, suppliers, etc.) support the theory of direct lineage. It is also believed that the KH-11s were the first application of CCD (Charge-Coupled Device) cameras, digital sensors that convert light into electronic images. Originally designed for space-based intelligence, CCDs later revolutionized astronomy, medicine, and civil imaging.
When Military Innovation Shapes Society
History is clear: each of us carries the legacy of the Cold War in our pockets. Today, we are operating in a context that many refer to as a “second Cold War.” The core question is no longer whether investments in security and defence will produce innovation, but how to maximize their economic and social benefits for civilian society.
Unlocking Canada’s Dual-Use Innovation Potential
Canada already possesses several critical assets for dual-use innovation (civil and military):
- World-class AI clusters and research
- Growing cybersecurity expertise
- Strong sectors in aerospace, robotics, autonomous mobility, optics, and photonics
- Leadership in clean energy
- Strategic mineral supply chains
- Advanced test centres and scientific infrastructure
However, maximizing the impact of defence and security investments for commercial applications requires a long-term vision, intensity, and stability, to build the critical mass of expertise, develop technologies, and ensure market opportunities that will strengthen a robust industrial base.
In conclusion, dual-use innovation is nothing new. While Canada may have fallen behind over several decades compared to other nations, the principle remains valid. As the saying goes, “The best time to plant a tree was twenty years ago; the second-best time is now.” The real challenge lies in turning this moment into decisive action.