On February 8, 2022, the interagency Fast Track Action Subcommittee on Critical and Emerging Technologies of the National Science and Technology Council (the “Subcommittee”) published an updated list of Critical and Emerging Technologies (the “CET List”) identifying certain advanced technologies that the Subcommittee has determined may be significant to the national security of the United States. The CET List focuses on core technologies and, by design, does not cover adjacent objectives, such as technological applications, responsible development / deployment or accessibility or interoperability of identified technologies.
The Subcommittee emphasized in an accompanying report that the CET List “should not be interpreted as a priority list for either policy development or funding”, but rather is intended to inform a forthcoming comprehensive strategy on U.S. technological competitiveness and national security (the “Comprehensive Technology Strategy”) as to the kinds of critical and emerging technologies likely to be the focus of particularized scrutiny over the coming years. To that end, the Subcommittee has encouraged U.S. government departments and agencies to consult the CET List when developing initiatives to identify technologies that support national security missions, compete for international talent, and protect sensitive technology from misappropriation or misuse.
