Synthetic biology! Critical and Emerging Technologies List 2024

Recently, the United States released the "key and emerging technology list 2024", a total of 18 key and emerging technologies, at the same time, the sub-field of each technology is described.

The report states:

Critical and emerging technologies are of great importance to U.S. national security. The 2022 National Security Strategy identifies three national security interests: protecting the security of the American people, expanding economic prosperity and opportunity, and realizing and defending American democratic values. The NSTC established this Fast Track Action Subcommittee in 2020 to identify critical and emerging technologies to inform national security-related activities. The list identifies potential CETs and builds on the October 2020 National Strategy for Critical and Emerging Technologies, which contains a preliminary list of priority CETs.

This updated document expands on the original CET list and the February 2022 update, identifying sub-areas for each CET and, where possible, focusing on core technologies that continue to emerge and modernize. While enabling or supporting technology is sometimes mentioned, other enabling capabilities, such as a modern, technologically capable workforce, are excluded. Although some enabling capabilities are not explicitly included, they remain essential for the promotion and protection of all CETs.

While not a strategy document, this updated CET list may serve as a reference for specific measures by the U.S. government and agencies regarding technological competitiveness and national security. This list could also inform future prioritization across the CET and its constituent subdomains; however, it should not be used as a priority list for policy development or funding. Instead, the list should be used as a resource: to inform future measures to advance U.S. technological leadership; to work with allies and partners to advance and maintain shared technological advantage; to develop, design, manage, and use CETs that deliver tangible benefits to society and are consistent with democratic values; and to develop U.S. government responses to U.S. security threats. For example, departments and agencies may refer to this CET List when developing technology research and development programs that support national security missions, compete for international talent, and protect sensitive technologies from misappropriation and misuse.

To generate this updated list of CETs, the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) conducted an interagency review through the National Science and Technology Council (NSTC) and in coordination with the National Security Council (NSC) organization. The responsible NSTC subcommittee includes subject matter experts from 18 departments, agencies, and offices of the President's Office, who identify subareas of CET that their organizations believe may be critical to U.S. national security. Accordingly, this updated CET list is coordinated by the NSTC and the NSC and reflects each department's proposed revision to the 2022 CET.

Key and emerging technology sub-areas are as follows:

 

 

1. Advanced Computing

• Advanced supercomputing, including artificial intelligence applications

• Edge computing and devices

• Advanced Cloud Services

• High-performance data storage and data center

• Advanced computing architecture

• Advanced modeling and simulation

• Data processing and analysis techniques

• Spatial calculation

2. Advanced Engineering Materials

• Design materials and materials genomics

Materials with novel properties, including substantial improvements to existing properties

• Emerging material characterization and life cycle assessment techniques

3. Advanced gas turbine technology

• Aerospace, maritime and industrial development and production technologies

• Full authority digital engine control, hot section manufacturing and related technologies

 

4. Advanced Networked Sensing and Feature Management

• Payloads, sensors and instruments

• Sensor processing and data fusion

• Adaptive Optics

• Earth remote sensing

• Geophysical sensing

• Signature management

• Detection and identification of pathogens and chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear weapons and materials

• Transport sector perception

• Security department perception

• Health sector perception

• Energy sector perception

• Manufacturing perception

• Building sector perception

• Environmental sector perception

 

5. Advanced Manufacturing

• Advanced Additive Manufacturing

• Advanced manufacturing technologies and technologies, including those that support clean, sustainable and smart manufacturing, nanofabrication, light metal manufacturing, and product and material recycling

 

6. Artificial Intelligence (AI)

• Machine learning

• Deep learning

• Reinforcement learning

• Sensory perception and recognition

• Artificial Intelligence Assurance and Evaluation Technology

• Base model

• Generate artificial intelligence systems, multi-modal and large language models

• Synthetic data methods for training, tuning and testing

• Planning, reasoning and decision-making

• Technology to improve the safe, trusted, secure and responsible use of AI

 

7. Biotechnology

• Novel synthetic biology, including nucleic acid, genomic, epigenomic and protein synthesis and engineering, including design tools

• Multi-omics and other biometrics, bioinformatics, computational biology, predictive modeling, and functional phenotype analysis tools

• Engineering of subcellular, multicellular, and multiscale systems

• Cell-free systems and technologies

• Engineering of viruses and virus delivery systems

• Bio/non-bio interface

• Biomanufacturing and bioprocessing technologies

 

8. Clean energy generation and storage

• Renewable energy generation

• Renewable and sustainable chemicals, fuels and feedstocks

• Nuclear energy systems

• Fusion energy

• Energy storage

• Electric and hybrid engines

• Battery

• Grid integration technology

• Energy efficiency technologies

• Carbon management technology

 

9. Data privacy, data security and network security technology

• Distributed Ledger Technology

• Digital assets

• Digital payment technology

• Digital identity technology, biometrics and related infrastructure

• Communications and network security

• Technology to enhance privacy

• Technologies for data fusion and improved data interoperability, privacy and security

• Distributed Secure Computing

• Computing supply chain security

• Security and privacy technologies in augmented reality/virtual reality

 

10. Directed energy

• Laser

• High power microwave

• Particle beam

 

Highly automated, autonomous and unattended systems (UxS) and robotics

• Ground

• Air

• Sea

• Space

• Support for digital infrastructure, including high-definition (HD) maps

• Autonomous command and control

 

12. Ergonomics

• Augmented Reality

• Virtual Reality

• Human-machine collaboration

• Neural technology

 

13. Hypersonic technology

• Propulsion

• Aerodynamics and control

• Materials, construction and manufacturing

• Detection, tracking, characterization and defense

• Testing

 

14. Integrated communications and networking technologies

• Radio frequency (RF) and mixed-signal circuits, antennas, filters and components

• Spectrum management and sensing technology

• New generation wireless networks

• Optical link and fiber technology

• Land/submarine cables

• Satellite communications and stratospheric communications

• Delay tolerant networks

• Mesh/Infrastructure-independent communication technology

• Software-defined networking and radio

• Modern data exchange technology

• Adaptive network control

• Elastic and adaptive waveforms

 

15. Positioning, Navigation and Timing (PNT) Technology

• Provide diverse PNT-enabled technologies for users and systems in airborne, space-based, ground-based, subsurface and underwater environments

• Interference and deception detection techniques, algorithms, analysis and network monitoring systems

• Anti-interference/rejection and reinforcement techniques

16. Quantum Information and Enabling Technologies

• Quantum Computing

• Materials, isotopes and fabrication techniques for quantum devices

• Quantum sensing

• Quantum Communications and Networks

• Support system

 

17. Semiconductors and Microelectronics

• Design and electronic design automation tools

• Manufacturing process technology and manufacturing equipment

• Beyond complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) technology

• Heterogeneous integration and advanced packaging

• Dedicated/custom hardware components for artificial intelligence, natural and harsh radiation environments, RF and optical components, high-power devices and other critical applications

• New materials for advanced microelectronics

• Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems (MEMS) and Nano-Electro-Mechanical Systems (NEMS)

• New architecture for non-von Neumann computing

 

18. Space technologies and systems

• Space services, assembly and manufacturing and enabling technologies

• Technology enabler for cost-effective on-demand and reusable space launch systems

-Technology that enables access to and use of cis-lunar space and/or new types of orbits

• Sensors and data analysis tools for space-based observations

• Space propulsion

• Advanced spacecraft power generation

• New spacecraft thermal management

• Manned space enabler

-Resilient and path-diverse space communication systems, networks and ground stations

• Space launch, range and safety technologies