Critical and Emerging Technologies
The U.S. Federal Government understands the following areas to be Critical and Emerging technologies, as per February 2024 Critical and Emerging Technologies List Update.
Advanced Computing +
- Advanced supercomputing, including for AI applications
- Edge computing and devices
- Advanced cloud services
- High-performance data storage and data centers
- Advanced computing architectures
- Advanced modeling and simulation
- Data processing and analysis techniques
- Spatial computing
Advanced Engineering Materials +
- Materials by design and material genomics
- Materials with novel properties to include substantial improvements to existing properties
- Novel and emerging techniques for material property characterization and lifecycle assessment
Advanced Gas Turbine Engineering Technologies +
- Aerospace, maritime, and industrial development and production technologies
- Full-authority digital engine control, hot-section manufacturing, and associated technologies
Advanced and Networked Sensing and Signature Management +
- Payloads, sensors, and instruments
- Sensor processing and data fusion
- Adaptive optics
- Remote sensing of the Earth
- Geophysical sensing
- Signature management
- Detection and characterization of pathogens and of chemical, biological, radiological and
nuclear weapons and materials - Transportation-sector sensing
- Security-sector sensing
- Health-sector sensing
- Energy-sector sensing
- Manufacturing-sector sensing
- Building-sector sensing
- Environmental-sector sensing
Advanced Manufacturing +
- Advanced additive manufacturing
- Advanced manufacturing technologies and techniques including those supporting clean,
sustainable, and smart manufacturing, nanomanufacturing, lightweight metal manufacturing,
and product and material recovery
Artificial Intelligence (AI) +
- Machine learning
- Deep learning
- Reinforcement learning
- Sensory perception and recognition
- AI assurance and assessment techniques
- Foundation models
- Generative AI systems, multimodal and large language models
- Synthetic data approaches for training, tuning, and testing
- Planning, reasoning, and decision making
- Technologies for improving AI safety, trust, security, and responsible use
Biotechnologies +
- Novel synthetic biology including nucleic acid, genome, epigenome, and protein synthesis and engineering, including design tools
- Multi-omics and other biometrology, bioinformatics, computational biology, predictive
modeling, and analytical tools for functional phenotypes - Engineering of sub-cellular, multicellular, and multi-scale systems
- Cell-free systems and technologies
- Engineering of viral and viral delivery systems
- Biotic/abiotic interfaces
- Biomanufacturing and bioprocessing technologies
Clean Energy Generation and Storage +
- Renewable generation
- Renewable and sustainable chemistries, fuels, and feedstocks
- Nuclear energy systems
- Fusion energy
- Energy storage
- Electric and hybrid engines
- Batteries
- Grid integration technologies
- Energy-efficiency technologies
- Carbon management technologies
Data Privacy, Data Security, and Cybersecurity Technologies +
- Distributed ledger technologies
- Digital assets
- Digital payment technologies
- Digital identity technologies, biometrics, and associated infrastructure
- Communications and network security
- Privacy-enhancing technologies
- Technologies for data fusion and improving data interoperability, privacy, and security
- Distributed confidential computing
- Computing supply chain security
- Security and privacy technologies in augmented reality/virtual reality
Directed Energy +
- Lasers
- High-power microwaves
- Particle beams
Highly Automated, Autonomous, and Uncrewed Systems (UxS), and Robotics +
- Surface
- Air
- Maritime
- Space
- Supporting digital infrastructure, including High Definition (HD) maps
- Autonomous command and control
Human-Machine Interfaces +
- Augmented reality
- Virtual reality
- Human-machine teaming
- Neurotechnologies
Hypersonics +
- Propulsion
- Aerodynamics and control
- Materials, structures, and manufacturing
- Detection, tracking, characterization, and defense
- Testing
Integrated Communication and Networking Technologies +
- Radio-frequency (RF) and mixed-signal circuits, antennas, filters, and components
- Spectrum management and sensing technologies
- Future generation wireless networks
- Optical links and fiber technologies
- Terrestrial/undersea cables
- Satellite-based and stratospheric communications
- Delay-tolerant networking
- Mesh networks/infrastructure independent communication technologies
- Software-defined networking and radios
- Modern data exchange techniques
- Adaptive network controls
- Resilient and adaptive waveforms
Positioning, Navigation, and Timing (PNT) Technologies +
- Diversified PNT-enabling technologies for users and systems in airborne, space-based, terrestrial, subterranean, and underwater settings
- Interference, jamming, and spoofing detection technologies, algorithms, analytics, and
networked monitoring systems - Disruption/denial-resisting and hardening technologies
Quantum Information and Enabling Technologies +
- Quantum computing
- Materials, isotopes, and fabrication techniques for quantum devices
- Quantum sensing
- Quantum communications and networking
- Supporting systems
Semiconductors and Microelectronics +
- Design and electronic design automation tools
- Manufacturing process technologies and manufacturing equipment
- Beyond complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) technology
- Heterogeneous integration and advanced packaging
- Specialized/tailored hardware components for artificial intelligence, natural and hostile
radiation environments, RF and optical components, high-power devices, and other critical
applications - Novel materials for advanced microelectronics
- Microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) and Nanoelectromechanical systems (NEMS)
- Novel architectures for non-Von Neumann computing
Space Technologies and Systems +
- In-space servicing, assembly, and manufacturing as well as enabling technologies
- Technology enablers for cost-effective on-demand, and reusable space launch systems
- Technologies that enable access to and use of cislunar space and/or novel orbits
- Sensors and data analysis tools for space-based observations
- Space propulsion
- Advanced space vehicle power generation
- Novel space vehicle thermal management
- Crewed spaceflight enablers
- Resilient and path-diverse space communication systems, networks, and ground stations
- Space launch, range, and safety technologies