Beyond trade-offs: Dual-use social innovations for secure and sustainable futures

This paper introduces dual-use social innovations (DUSI) as a conceptual and practical framework for integrating security concerns into visioning and planning for sustainable futures. The effective development of DUSI depends on future visions that explicitly unite sustainable transition and security risks – priorities too often considered in isolation. By going beyond trade-offs and intentionally combining these imperatives, DUSI strengthen social resilience and preparedness against security risks while supporting sustainable transitions, transforming social relations by changing how communities organize, decide, and share resources. Amid converging geopolitical tensions and accelerating climate impacts, DUSI offer pathways to avoid privileging security at the expense of sustainability, enabling genuine synergies between civil preparedness and sustainable development. Grounded in the AREA framework for Responsible Research and Innovation (Anticipation, Reflection, Engagement, Action), this work proposes a three-part research agenda: (1) evaluating practices of secure and sustainable visioning across contexts; (2) co-creating frameworks with anticipation communities to understand the intersection of security and sustainability; and (3) developing tools that empower communities to create embedded visions and implement context-relevant DUSI. This approach emphasizes transdisciplinary collaboration and researcher engagement in supporting stakeholders through continuous adaptation – navigating tensions and advancing innovation beyond false choices between security and sustainability. • Geopolitical shifts demand security risks be included in sustainability visions. • Integrated security-sustainability visions enable dual-use social innovations (DUSI). • DUSI transform social relations to integrate security and sustainability goals. • AREA framework guides responsible development of secure-sustainable innovations. • Energy communities may develop dual-use approach: decarbonization and preparedness.