U N D E R S T A N D I N G “ C E T s ”

Most Israelis have never heard the term “Critical and Emerging Technologies.” That’s about to change.

The United States’ Critical and Emerging Technologies list is perhaps the most important list of capabilities in the U.S., and is used by nearly every major government agency and department.

The regularly updated CET list, published by the White House National Science and Technology Council and The Office of Science and Technology Policy, builds upon a 2020 National Strategy for Critical and Emerging Technologies, and includes a list of 18 advanced capabilities that are critical to national security and economic competitiveness.

To give you a sense of how important and pervasive the list of CET is in the United States, please consider the following:

  • Export Controls — The Bureau of Industry and Security at the Commerce Department uses the CET list in the development and implementation of all export controls.

  • Foreign Investment — The Treasury Department’s Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States uses the CET list in regulation of both inbound and outbound foreign investment.

  • Technology Cooperation — The U.S. State Department uses the CET list to guide diplomatic efforts related to technology cooperation and competition with allies and partners.

  • Research Funding — The National Science Foundation uses the CET list to inform research funding priorities in critical technology areas.

  • Technology Acquisition — The Department of Defense and the Pentagon use the CET list to guide defense technology development and acquisition priorities.

  • Foreign Ownership and Control — The Department of Justice uses the CET list when assessing Foreign Ownership, Control and Influence (“FOCI”) risks in government contracts and security clearance procedures, and when addressing national security threats related to Americans’ sensitive personal data.

  • Technical Leadership —  The Office of Critical and Emerging Technologies at the Department of Energy, as well as other U.S. government departments, uses the White House CET list to guide its efforts to “sustain and extend U.S. leadership in technology in support of DOE’s energy, science, and security mission.

  • Immigration Policy — The Department of Homeland Security uses the White House CET list in its effort to streamline “processing times of petitions and applications for those seeking to work, study, or conduct research [on CETs] in the United States.”

  • Overall Policy — The White House Office of Science and Technology Policy uses the CET list to coordinate science and technology policy across the federal government.

The CET list has a survived multiple administrations, and President Trump kicked off his second administration by “renewing American leadership in critical and emerging technologies.“

The latest White House List of Critical and Emerging Technologies was updated in February of 2024. It is published by the National Science and Technology Council.

Summary of the CET List

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 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