The U.S. National Science and Technology Council (NSTC) released an updated Critical and Emerging Technologies (CETs) list in February 2024. The new CETs list is based on the 2020 National Strategy for Critical and Emerging Technologies and is updated biennially. The update process was led by the Critical and Emerging Technologies Rapid Action subcommittee, jointly chaired by the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP), NSTC, and the National Security Council (NSC), with participation from experts across 18 federal departments including Commerce, Defense, and Energy.

The 2024 list covers 18 technology areas, including advanced computing, advanced manufacturing, artificial intelligence, clean energy, semiconductors and microelectronics, among others. Notably, compared to the 2022 version, this list merges certain technology areas and adds the Positioning, Navigation, and Timing (PNT) technology field, reflecting a reassessment of the importance of specific technologies and a focus on emerging technologies.

In terms of specific technical content, the 2024 list particularly strengthens the technological layout in areas such as artificial intelligence, data and cybersecurity technologies, and next-generation communication technologies. The emphasis on these areas highlights the strategic intent to maintain leadership in global technological competition, especially in the field of data and cybersecurity technologies.

The NSTC stated that the updated CETs list will provide the U.S. government and federal agencies with specific directions to enhance U.S. technological competitiveness and national security, while also offering important information on the priorities for future technological development. This will not only help safeguard U.S. technological leadership in the long term but also maintain its competitive edge in key areas of global technological competition.

With the rapid development of technology and the ever-changing global competitive landscape, how the U.S. implements these technological development strategies in practice and how it promotes economic growth through technological innovation will be key focuses.