2024 Critical and Emerging Technologies List - U.S.

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 Engine Technologies

• Aerospace, maritime, and industrial development and production technologies
• Full-authority digital engine control, hot-section manufacturing, and associated technologies

Advanced and Network 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)

• 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