CRITICAL AND EMERGING TECHNOLOGIESLIST UPDATE

A Report by theFAST TRACK ACTION SUBCOMMITTEE ON CRITICAL AND
EMERGING TECHNOLOGIESof theNATIONAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY COUNCILFebruary 2024

CRITICAL AND EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES LIST UPDATE

About the National Science and Technology Council
The National Science and Technology Council (NSTC) is the principal means by which the Executive
Branch coordinates science and technology policy across the diverse entities that make up the Federal
research and development enterprise. A primary objective of the NSTC is to ensure that science andtechnology policy decisions and programs are consistent with the President's stated goals. The NSTC
prepares research and development strategies that are coordinated across Federal agencies aimed ataccomplishing multiple national goals. The work of the NSTC is organized under committees thatoversee subcommittees and working groups focused on different aspects of science and technology.
More information is available at http://www.whitehouse.gov/ostp/nstc.

About the Office of Science and Technology Policy
The Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) was established by the National Science andTechnology Policy, Organization, and Priorities Act of 1976 to provide the President and others withinthe Executive Office of the President with advice on the scientific, engineering, and technologicalaspects of the economy, national security, homeland security, health, foreign relations, theenvironment, and the technological recovery and use of resources, among other topics. OSTP leadsinteragency science and technology policy coordination efforts, assists the Office of Management andBudget with an annual review and analysis of Federal research and development in budgets, and serves
as a source of scientific and technological analysis and judgment for the President with respect to major
policies, plans, and programs of the Federal Government. More information is available at
http://www.whitehouse.gov/ostp.

About the Fast Track Action Subcommittee on Critical and Emerging
Technologies
The NSTC established this Fast Track Action Subcommittee in 2020 to identify critical and emerging
technologies to inform national security-related activities. In support of this work, the Subcommittee
coordinated across the NSTC and the National Security Council (NSC) to identify priority critical andemerging technology subfields, updated no less than every two years.

About this Document
This document identifies critical and emerging technologies.

Copyright Information
This document is a work of the United States Government and is in the public domain (see 17 U.S.C.
§105). It may be distributed and copied with acknowledgment to OSTP. Published in the United Statesof America, 2024.

CRITICAL AND EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES LIST UPDATENATIONAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY COUNCIL
Chair

Executive Director
Kei Koizumi, Acting Executive Director,
National Science and Technology Council,
Principal Deputy Director for Policy, OSTP

Arati Prabhakar, Director, Office of Scienceand Technology Policy

FAST TRACK ACTION SUBCOMMITTEE ON CRITICAL AND EMERGINGTECHNOLOGIESCo-Chairs
Hila Levy, Office of Science and Technology Policy
Garrett Berntsen, National Security Council (through December 2023)
Tantum (Teddy) Collins, National Security Council (from December 2023)
Members
National Aeronautics and Space
Administration

Department of Agriculture
Department of Commerce

National Science Foundation

Department of Defense

National Security Agency

Department of Energy

National Security Council staff

Department of Health and Human Services

National Space Council staff

Department of Homeland Security
Department of the Interior

Office of the Director of National
Intelligence

Department of Justice

Office of Management and Budget

Department of State

Office of Science and Technology Policy

Department of Transportation–i–CRITICAL AND EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES LIST UPDATE

Table of Contents
Abbreviations and Acronyms ...................................................................................................................... iii
Overview ....................................................................................................................................................... 1
Critical and Emerging Technologies List...................................................................................................... 2
Critical and Emerging Technology Subfields ............................................................................................... 3– ii –

CRITICAL AND EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES LIST UPDATE

Abbreviations and Acronyms
AI

artificial intelligenceCET

critical and emerging technology(ies)

NSTC

National Science and Technology Council

OSTP

Office of Science and Technology PolicyRFradio frequency– iii –

CRITICAL AND EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES LIST UPDATE

Overview
Critical and emerging technologies (CETs) are a subset of advanced technologies that are potentiallysignificant to U.S. national security. The 2022 National Security Strategy identifies three national security
interests: protect the security of the American people, expand economic prosperity and opportunity,
and realize and defend the democratic values at the heart of the American way of life.1 The NSTC
established this Fast Track Action Subcommittee in 2020 to identify critical and emerging technologies
to inform national security-related activities. This list identifies CETs with the potential to further theseinterests and builds on the October 2020 National Strategy for Critical and Emerging Technologies, whichcontains an initial list of priority CETs.2 This updated document expands upon that original CET list andthe February 2022 update by identifying subfields for each CET with a focus, where possible, on coretechnologies that continue to emerge and modernize, while remaining critical to a free, open, secure,and prosperous world. While enabling or supporting technologies are sometimes referenced, otherenabling capabilities, like a modernized, technically capable workforce, are excluded. Though certain
enabling capabilities are not explicitly included, they remain critical to the promotion and protectionof all CETs.
Though not a strategy document, this updated CET list may inform government-wide and agencyspecific efforts concerning U.S. technological competitiveness and national security. This list may also
inform future efforts to prioritize across CETs and their component subfields; however, this list should
not be interpreted as a priority list for either policy development or funding. Instead, this list should beused as a resource to: inform future efforts that promote U.S. technological leadership; cooperate withallies and partners to advance and maintain shared technological advantages; develop, design, govern,and use CETs that yield tangible benefits for society and are aligned with democratic values; anddevelop U.S. Government measures that respond to threats against U.S. security. Departments andagencies may consult this CET list when developing, for example, initiatives to research and develop
technologies that support national security missions, compete for international talent, and protect
sensitive technology from misappropriation and misuse.
To generate this updated CET list, the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) facilitated anextensive interagency deliberative process through the National Science and Technology Council(NSTC) and in coordination with the National Security Council (NSC). The responsible NSTC
subcommittee included subject matter experts from 18 departments, agencies, and offices in theExecutive Office of the President, who identified CET subfields that their home organizations determined
may be critical to U.S. national security. As such, this updated CET list, which was coordinated throughboth the NSTC and the NSC, reflects an interagency consensus on updates to the 2022 CETs.
https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Biden-Harris-Administrations-National-Security-Strategy10.2022.pdf
2https://trumpwhitehouse.archives.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/National-Strategy-for-CET.pdf
1–1–CRITICAL AND EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES LIST UPDATE

Critical and Emerging Technologies List
The following critical and emerging technology areas are of particular importance to the national
security of the United States:••••••••••••••••••

Advanced Computing
Advanced Engineering Materials
Advanced Gas Turbine Engine TechnologiesAdvanced and Networked Sensing and Signature Management
Advanced Manufacturing
Artificial Intelligence
Biotechnologies
Clean Energy Generation and Storage
Data Privacy, Data Security, and Cybersecurity Technologies
Directed Energy
Highly Automated, Autonomous, and Uncrewed Systems (UxS), and Robotics
Human-Machine Interfaces
Hypersonics
Integrated Communication and Networking Technologies
Positioning, Navigation, and Timing (PNT) Technologies
Quantum Information and Enabling Technologies
Semiconductors and Microelectronics
Space Technologies and Systems–2–

CRITICAL AND EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES LIST UPDATE

Critical and Emerging Technology Subfields
Each identified CET area includes a set of key subfields that describe its scope in more detail.

Advanced Computing••
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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 Engine 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•
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Payloads, sensors, and instruments
Sensor processing and data fusion
Adaptive optics
Remote sensing of the EarthGeophysical sensing
Signature management
Detection and characterization of pathogens and of chemical, biological, radiological andnuclear 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–3–

CRITICAL AND EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES LIST UPDATEArtificial Intelligence (AI)
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Machine learning
Deep learning
Reinforcement learning
Sensory perception and recognition
AI assurance and assessment techniques
Foundation modelsGenerative 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
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Novel synthetic biology including nucleic acid, genome, epigenome, and protein synthesis andengineering, including design tools
Multi-omics and other biometrology, bioinformatics, computational biology, predictivemodeling, 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
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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
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Distributed ledger technologies
Digital assetsDigital 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–4–

CRITICAL AND EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES LIST UPDATE

Directed Energy•••

LasersHigh-power microwaves
Particle beams

Highly Automated, Autonomous, and Uncrewed Systems (UxS), and Robotics••••••Surface
AirMaritimeSpaceSupporting digital infrastructure, including High Definition (HD) maps
Autonomous command and control

Human-Machine Interfaces••••

Augmented reality
Virtual reality
Human-machine teaming
Neurotechnologies

Hypersonics
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Propulsion
Aerodynamics and control
Materials, structures, and manufacturing
Detection, tracking, characterization, and defense
Testing

Integrated Communication and Networking Technologies
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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, andnetworked monitoring systems
Disruption/denial-resisting and hardening technologies–5–CRITICAL AND EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES LIST UPDATE

Quantum Information and Enabling Technologies
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Quantum computing
Materials, isotopes, and fabrication techniques for quantum devices
Quantum sensing
Quantum communications and networking
Supporting systems

Semiconductors and Microelectronics
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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 criticalapplications
Novel materials for advanced microelectronics
Microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) and Nanoelectromechanical systems (NEMS)
Novel architectures for non-Von Neumann computing

Space Technologies and Systems•
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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–6–