Critical & Emerging Technologies

Overview

Critical and emerging technologies (CETs) are advanced technology areas that are or may become critically important to U.S. national security. The U.S. government identifies CET areas to help focus federal research and development priorities, maintain U.S. technological leadership, strengthen technological resilience, and protect important science and technology from foreign theft, diversion, and exploitation.

Research involving a critical or emerging technology is not, by that fact alone, restricted, prohibited, classified, or export controlled. However, the nature of the technology may be relevant to research security considerations, particularly when combined with international collaborations, foreign affiliations, restricted entities, sponsor requirements, access to nonpublic research information, or other risk factors.

The Office of Research Security (ORS) considers the nature of the research and technology as one factor within the broader circumstances of a research activity.

Federal Critical and Emerging Technologies

The 2026 National Security Science and Technology Strategy (NSSTS) identifies critical and emerging technologies relevant to U.S. national security. The strategy describes CETs as a subset of advanced technologies that are or may become critically important to national security and emphasizes that the list is narrower than all technologies that may be relevant or important to national security.

The current CET areas are:

Each CET area includes more specific technology subfields. The examples identified by the federal government are intended to illustrate the scope of each area and are not comprehensive.

Researchers should consult Appendix A of the National Security Science and Technology Strategy for the current list and descriptions of technology subfields.

Federal agencies, statutes, regulations, and funding programs may identify or define critical, emerging, sensitive, or key technology areas differently for particular purposes. Researchers should therefore consider requirements applicable to their specific sponsor, funding opportunity, award, or research activity.

Why Critical and Emerging Technologies Matter to Research Security

The United States seeks to maintain an open and innovative research environment while protecting science and technology from foreign theft, diversion, exploitation, and other national security risks.

The National Security Science and Technology Strategy identifies protecting national security science and technology as a central component of U.S. technology policy. The strategy specifically connects technology protection with research security, foreign investment screening, export controls, and restrictions concerning sensitive data and technology transfers.

Research involving a CET area may therefore receive additional consideration when other research security factors are present, including:

• international research collaborations or partnerships;
• foreign institutional or governmental affiliations;
• involvement of organizations or individuals appearing on U.S. government restricted party or entity lists;
• activities involving countries or entities subject to federal research security restrictions;
• foreign funding, support, appointments, or other relationships;
• access to nonpublic, proprietary, controlled, or otherwise restricted research information;
• transfers of equipment, software, materials, technical information, or technology outside the United States;
• sponsor-specific research security or technology protection requirements; or
• potential military, intelligence, surveillance, or other national security applications.

The presence of a CET or one of these additional factors does not necessarily mean that an activity is prohibited or cannot proceed. Research security considerations depend on the specific circumstances of the activity and applicable federal, sponsor, and University requirements.

Critical and Emerging Technologies and International Research

International research collaboration is an important component of the University's research mission, including research in critical and emerging technology areas.

The federal government also recognizes the importance of collaboration with international allies and partners in CET areas. At the same time, federal research security policies increasingly seek to prevent foreign adversaries and other high-risk actors from obtaining U.S. technology, intellectual property, sensitive information, or research capabilities through exploitation of the research environment.

The involvement of a CET does not, by itself, make an international collaboration impermissible. Relevant considerations may include:

• the nature and potential applications of the technology;
• the identity and institutional affiliations of collaborators;
• countries and organizations involved;
• the source and terms of research funding;
• information, software, materials, equipment, or technology that will be shared;
• applicable federal sponsor requirements;
• restricted entity or other due-diligence findings; and
• applicable export control or information protection requirements.

ORS evaluates these factors together when determining whether an international research activity requires additional review or risk management.

Critical and Emerging Technologies and Export Controls

Identification of a research area as a critical or emerging technology does not mean that the research or technology is export controlled.

Export control requirements are determined separately under applicable U.S. laws and regulations, including the Export Administration Regulations (EAR), International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), and U.S. economic sanctions programs.

The National Security Science and Technology Strategy recognizes export controls as one tool for protecting leading-edge capabilities and shaping the development and availability of critical technologies. Whether a particular research activity involves export-controlled equipment, software, technology, technical data, materials, or services requires a separate export control analysis.

Many University research activities involving CETs may remain unrestricted and intended for open publication. Other activities may involve controlled technology or information or circumstances requiring additional review.

Visit the Export Controls program page for additional information.

Export Controls Program page

When to Contact ORS

Researchers are responsible for determining whether their research involves a Critical or Emerging Technology and for considering the potential research security risks associated with these technologies, particularly in connection with international engagements.

Contact the Office of Research Security (ORS) when research involving a critical or emerging technology also involves circumstances that may raise research security, export control, sponsor, or information protection considerations, including:

• a new or proposed international collaboration or partnership;
• a foreign institution, company, government, or other organization;
• a collaborator or organization that may be subject to U.S. government restrictions;
• a Country of Concern or sanctioned or embargoed country;
• foreign funding, appointments, affiliations, or other support;
• nonpublic, proprietary, controlled, or otherwise restricted research information;
• international transfers of equipment, software, materials, technical information, or technology;
• sponsor-specific research security or technology protection requirements; or
• uncertainty about whether the research involves a CET or whether additional review is required.

ORS can assist researchers in identifying applicable research security requirements and determining whether additional review or coordination with another University office is appropriate.

Contact ORS

Request an International Research Review

Related Guidance

Researchers working in critical and emerging technology areas may also find the following ORS guidance helpful:

Federal Resource

National Security Science and Technology Strategy (2026)
The strategy establishes the current federal national security science and technology framework and includes the updated Critical and Emerging Technologies List in Appendix A.

View the National Security Science and Technology Strategy