Transformation of Innovations: How War Stimulates the Development of Technologies for a Peaceful Future

Author : Yelisieiev Vadym, Bai Serhii

Abstract :Introduction: Wars have often been a powerful catalyst for technological progress. Although the innovations developed during times of military conflict are initially focused on military needs, many of them later find applications in civilian life. History provides numerous examples of such transitions: the development of plastic surgery, driven by the need to reconstruct the faces and bodies of soldiers injured in World War I; space programs, which largely grew out of rocket technologies from World War II; tourism and rescue equipment developed based on military gear; GPS navigation, initially used exclusively for military purposes but now an integral part of everyday life; microwave ovens, which emerged from radar technology research; and jet engines that transformed civilian aviation. Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine has already served as a catalyst for innovation development, many of which could be applied in peaceful life after the war ends. Russian aggression has caused significant changes in the structure of Ukraine's production sector. A large number of enterprises have reprofiled their production capacities to create military goods, such as drones, communication systems, and technologies for protecting personnel. Additionally, many new companies have emerged in the military-industrial complex (MIC). It is clear that these enterprises will not disappear after the combat operations end and will not cease their activities. Some of them will likely continue to specialize in military equipment, ensuring the needs of national defense and entering the international arms market. At the same time, other companies will be able to adapt their developments and use the acquired technologies to create innovative products and services in the peaceful economy. One of the most prominent examples of such transformation is the use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in civilian spheres. Military drone developments are already being applied in agriculture (field monitoring, fertilizer application, crop yield forecasting) and logistics (automated delivery of goods to remote regions). Furthermore, UAV technologies can be used in infrastructure construction for monitoring the condition of roads, bridges, and power lines, which is particularly important in the post-war recovery process. In addition to drones, an important area for the peaceful use of military developments is the advancement of cybersecurity and communication systems. Ukrainian engineers are creating advanced means of information and communication protection that can be adapted for use in the banking sector, government, and private business. Similarly, the development of medicine during the war— from the improvement of tactical medicine to the latest prosthetics and rehabilitation technologies—opens new opportunities for healthcare in peacetime.

Keywords :Wartime Innovation, Civilian Applications, Ukraine Conflict, UAV Technology, Post-War Transformation

Conference Name :International Conference on Business, Economics, Marketing and Management (ICBEMM-25)

Conference Place Lisbon, Portugal

Conference Date 1st May 2025