Enhancing global biosecurity: strategies for agile crisis response
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In this publication, Heigo Sato talks about why addressing biosecurity when making security policy is critical and how the Quad can work towards establishing an international and regional response mechanisms for biosecurity and biosafety.
Key points
- Biosecurity encompasses a range of policy options that can sometimes contradict each other.
- International cooperation becomes challenging precisely when it is most keenly and urgently needed. Developing methods to transition from peacetime competition to contingency cooperation is critical.
- There will be no clear delineation between biosecurity and biosafety. It is vital that security policies encompass broader concerns, not solely focusing on the risk of terrorism.
- A multi-stakeholder approach is both essential and necessary.
Policy recommendations
- Promote an open innovation approach to biotechnology development. Governments should closely monitor activities by stakeholders in technology development and ensure their accountability.
- Monitoring the potential application of these technologies for military use is critical. It is necessary to share information on risk assessments related to biotechnology through an international framework.
- Establish international and regional response mechanisms for biosecurity and biosafety.
About the series
This paper has been written for the Quad Tech Network Dialogue, as part of the Quad Tech Network (QTN) initiative. QTN is an initiative of the NSC, delivered with support from the Australian Government. It aims to establish and deepen academic and official networks linking the Quad nations – Australia, India, Japan, and the United States – in relation to the most pressing technology issues affecting the future security and prosperity of the Indo-Pacific.
