EAGER: SENSE: National Security Evaluation of Neurotechnology Systems and Emerging tools

This research security project presents a structured, multi-dimensional approach to evaluate and reduce research and national security risks associated with emerging neurotechnology. Neurotechnology, devices and systems that connect computers with the human brain and nervous system, hold great promise for advancing medicine, education, and communication. However, as these technologies become more advanced and widespread, they also introduce new risks related to privacy, security, and safety through potential misuse. Importantly, these risks depend on the specific application, meaning a trade-off must be made between security and facilitating the research collaborations and activities to further the development of such technologies. The aim of this project is to enable researchers, developers, and policymakers to use these powerful tools responsibly and safely, allowing society to benefit while minimizing unintended consequences. This project brings together experts from neuroscience, cybersecurity, and computer systems to create a science-based framework for understanding and reducing the research and national security risks linked to neurotechnology. It focuses on multi-faceted vulnerabilities in hardware design, software architecture, data collection pipelines, and analytical processes. The team will pursue five coordinated objectives: (1) mapping the neurotechnology risk landscape across various modalities and platforms, (2) examining case studies of known security breaches or dual-use issues, (3) creating computational models for probabilistic threat assessment, (4) developing open-source training and assessment tools for institutions and developers, and (5) establishing secure-by-design standards for neurotechnology hardware and software. Expected outcomes include public frameworks, educational resources, and technical guidelines to promote safer, more resilient neurotechnology. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.