Biotechnology, Human Enhancement and Human Augmentation: A Way Ahead for Research and Policy

The NATO Human Factors and Medicine (HFM) Research Specialist Team (RST) 335 was convened to generate a high level, comprehensive overview of biotechnologies that may be used for improving human physical, cognitive, physiological, sensory, or social functions for defence applications. Biotechnologies and Human Enhancement/Augmentation (BHEA) are one of the eight Emerging and Disruptive Technologies (EDT) approved by the NATO Science and Technology Board. The RST used a five-pillar approach: 1) Warfighter systems; 2) Warfighter performance; 3) Force protection; 4) Military medicine; and 5) Security and compliance to identify areas of relevance to operators. While the first 4 pillars are capabilities, the security and compliance pillar extends across all of biotechnology and the other 4 pillars. BHEA is not only a key EDT, it is as such, of interest to the wider international S and T, and operational communities. The present document builds on the main high-level report of the RST to provide a focused understanding of the regulatory challenges around BHEA; highlighting the opportunities to create international coherence in the development of an appropriate governing framework. Keeping the Alliance, militaries, paramilitary security forces in mind, it elaborates a way head for research and policy for addressing the security and compliance challenges surrounding the deployment of biotechnologies in pursuit of human enhancement. It is intended for use by the NATO bodies, including but not limited to the HFM Panel, to steer their respective programmes of work.