Areas Affected at UZH

Export control applies to dual-use goods that could be used for both civilian and military purposes. For example, expertise from the natural sciences that could be relevant for NBC weapons (nuclear, biological and chemical weapons). Additionally, there are technologies that could be used for surveillance or to commit further human rights violations in authoritarian regimes, such as AI applications. Export control is also relevant when employing people who could misuse the relevant expertise..

The following scenarios specific to the university context may be affected by export controls. The list is not exhaustive:

1. Sales/donations/loans of equipment abroad
2. Temporary exports of equipment abroad
3. Orders for goods and software from abroad or of foreign origin
4. Technology transfer domestically and abroad
5. Research contracts
6. Use of US products (e.g. US software)
7. Publications on technologies
8. Travelling abroad for meetings, conferences, etc. Travelling abroad with mobile devices on which export-controlled software and technologies are stored or which have access to UZH data
9. Inviting guests who could have access to UZH data relevant to export controls
10. Employing persons from third countries
11. Participation of foreign researchers or students in research projects

A goods- or use-related authorization may be required for the following areas of dual-use technologies and emerging technologies:

• Additive manufacturing
• Advanced and intelligent materials
• Applied Chemistry, Biochemistry and Chemical Engineering
• Engineering and manufacturing
• Applied physics
• Artificial intelligence
• Blockchain
• Aerospace technology
• Biotechnologies
• Measurement technology and sensor technology
• Chemical technology
• Nanotechnology
• Cyber surveillance
• Photonics and lighting technology
• Nuclear technologies
• Production and process engineering
• Digital technologies
• Quantum technologies
• Electrical and mechanical engineering
• Telecommunications and information technology

• Research results on pathogenic microorganisms and toxins that can be used to develop new bioweapons; analyses in molecular plant genetics that can be used for bioattacks on seeds;
• Experiments to investigate the transmissibility of highly pathogenic influenza viruses (e.g. "bird flu viruses");
• Research into dual-use AI tools (e.g. as software for facial recognition on the one hand and for equipping armed drones designed to identify specific individuals on the other);
• Research on geoscientific equipment supplied to NASA;
• Physics, aerospace technology: e.g. research into lasers or materials research and research into nanotechnology for the development of offensive weapons.
• Research into post-traumatic stress disorders in soldiers after war operations, the results of which can in turn be used in psychological warfare