Stanford Emerging Technology Review

Key Chapter Titles List

1. Preface
2. Executive Summary
3. Introduction: The Role of Science and Technology in Advancing National Interests
4. Artificial Intelligence
5. Biotechnology and Synthetic Biology
6. Cryptography
7. Laser Technology
8. Materials Science
9. Neuroscience
10. Robotics
11. Semiconductors
12. Space Technology
13. Sustainable Energy Technology
14. Cross-Cutting Themes and Commonalities
15. Technology Applications by Policy Area
16. Conclusion

Document Introduction

In today's era, the pace and scale of technological change are unprecedented. Breakthroughs, ranging from nanomaterials at one-fifty-thousandth the width of a human hair to private-sector technologies like commercial satellites deployed in outer space, are rapidly reshaping markets, societies, and the geopolitical landscape. Technology policy is no longer the exclusive domain of governments; the decisions of inventors and investors also carry profound policy implications. It is within this context that this report, *The Stanford Emerging Technology Review 2025*, emerges. It aims to provide technological education for decision-makers in both the public and private sectors, helping the United States seize opportunities, manage risks, and ensure the continued vitality of its innovation ecosystem.

This report is the inaugural flagship product of a collaboration between Stanford University's School of Engineering and the Hoover Institution. It systematically examines the current state and policy implications of ten key emerging technologies. Integrating expertise from leading scholars in science, engineering, economics, international relations, and history, the report seeks to identify critical technological developments, assess potential impacts, and clarify what policymakers need to know. The main body of the report delves into ten major fields in sequence: Artificial Intelligence, Biotechnology and Synthetic Biology, Cryptography, Lasers, Materials Science, Neuroscience, Robotics, Semiconductors, Space, and Sustainable Energy Technologies, analyzing their technical principles, development trends, and dual-use potential.

The report's analysis is based on a core observation: America's global leadership in innovation is crucial. It is not only a cornerstone of national economic and security but also key to maintaining a vibrant global technological innovation ecosystem and ensuring its benefits. To this end, the report particularly emphasizes the indispensable yet increasingly at-risk role of academia within the U.S. innovation ecosystem. Universities and U.S. National Laboratories are the sole institutions focused on advancing the frontiers of knowledge without regard for potential profits or foreseeable commercial applications. They are the source of breakthroughs such as radar, GPS, the internet, and even mRNA vaccines. However, current trends show that the immense advantages of the private sector—especially large technology companies—in computational resources, talent, and data are increasingly skewing research toward commercially driven applications. This may erode the nation's capacity for broad-based fundamental research and make independent assessments of the weaknesses, risks, and vulnerabilities of technologies like artificial intelligence more difficult.

The report further distills common themes and observations across technological fields, exploring the patterns of technological evolution over time, as well as shared drivers and inhibitors of innovation. Finally, the report maps technology applications specifically to key policy areas such as economic growth, national security, environmental and energy sustainability, health and medicine, and civil society, elucidating the complex interplay between technological development and national interests. This report is a core component of the Stanford Emerging Technology Review's ongoing initiative for technological education. Its perspectives stem from Stanford University's unique vantage point—the university is not only a historical founder and continuous driver of Silicon Valley's innovation ecosystem, but its interdisciplinary team of experts has, over the past year, provided numerous briefings and specialized workshops for senior leaders in the U.S. Congress, the White House, the Department of Commerce, the Department of Defense, and the intelligence community.