Why a Dual Tech Taxonomy is Essential

The rise of dual-use technology represents a fundamental shift in how innovation is developed, deployed, and funded across commercial and defense markets. While organizations, accelerators, and government agencies are increasingly embracing dual-use technologies, there remains no structured, standardized way to map and navigate this rapidly evolving landscape.

At DualSight, we recognize that dual-use is not a category—it is a strategy. Unlike traditional industries, dual-use technology is thematic and cross-sectoral, spanning multiple domains, funding pathways, and regulatory environments. This complexity makes it difficult for founders, investors, and policymakers to align on where technologies fit, how they scale, and how they move between commercial and defense markets.

The Need for a Comprehensive Taxonomy

Historically, discussions around dual-use technology have focused on individual technologies and specific funding mechanisms rather than on how the entire ecosystem functions as a whole. Governments and industry stakeholders have relied on fragmented frameworks to classify innovation, often using defense-centric or commercially isolated perspectives. This creates inefficiencies in:

• Funding discovery – Dual-use companies struggle to identify the right capital sources, from venture funding to federal programs like SBIR/STTR.

• Market alignment – Founders and investors lack a structured way to analyze how technologies transition from commercial to defense applications.

• Procurement and compliance – Companies face barriers in navigating export controls, acquisition pathways, and government contracting processes.

To address these challenges, DualSight has created the Dual Tech Taxonomy, a structured framework that organizes the dual-use ecosystem into 10 sectors and 6 domains. This taxonomy serves as the backbone for understanding emerging technologies, investment flows, enablers, and commercialization strategies.

A Strategic Framework for Decision Enablement

Rather than treating dual-use as a static classification, the Dual Tech Taxonomy provides a dynamic decision-making framework by organizing technologies based on applicability across multiple industries and operational environments.

1. Sector & Domain Categorization for Thematic Analysis

Instead of viewing dual-use technologies as an isolated industry, we group them into 10 key technology sectors that drive innovation across both commercial and defense applications. These sectors are then mapped to 6 operational domains, enabling stakeholders to track how technologies scale, integrate, and transition between markets.

2. Capital Stack & Investment Mapping

The DualSight Capital Stack connects the taxonomy to the funding ecosystem, providing insights into:

• Early-stage venture capital & accelerators

• Growth-stage investors & private equity

• Government-backed funding mechanisms (e.g., SBIR, DoD contracts)

• Strategic defense investment programs

This structure helps founders and investors align on capital sources that fit their commercialization strategy while giving policymakers a clearer view of private-public funding flows.

3. Enabler Ecosystem & Strategic Networks

Beyond capital, the DualSight framework incorporates the broader enabler ecosystem, including:

• Service providers (e.g., compliance, ITAR, export control experts)

• Regulatory bodies & policy frameworks

• Industry events, accelerators, and national security innovation networks

This holistic approach ensures that dual-use companies are not just classified—but actively connected to the resources, funding, and regulatory pathways they need to succeed.

Bringing Coherence to Dual-Use Innovation

While many organizations are working to accelerate dual-use innovation, most efforts remain siloed, focusing on specific programs, funding models, or technology categories. DualSight is taking a different approach—one that maps the entire landscape into a structured, actionable intelligence framework.

By creating a taxonomy-driven model, we provide:

• A unified system to classify and analyze dual-use technologies

• A structured capital stack that aligns investment and funding sources

• A resource network connecting startups, investors, and decision-makers

This is the foundation for decision enablement in dual-use technology—one that will allow stakeholders to navigate complexity, identify opportunities, and drive innovation at scale.

Explore the Dual Tech Taxonomy

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Resources

• Dual-Use is a Strategy, Not a Category (Nor a Trap), Gene Keselman and Fiona Murray, War on the Rocks

• The Rise in Dual-Use Technologies: A Paradigm Shift, Starburst Ventures