Innovation Thrusts

Explore cutting-edge technologies that drive breakthrough innovations across defense and commercial sectors.

Understanding Innovation Thrusts

Innovation in the Department of Defense doesn't happen in silos—it’s driven by an integrated set of research priorities, capability goals, and strategic needs. If you're new to the DoD science and technology (S&T) landscape, it can be challenging to distinguish between the various categories of priorities you’ll encounter, such as Innovation Thrusts, Foundational Research Areas, and Critical Technology Areas. This page is here to help.

What Are Innovation Thrusts?

Innovation Thrusts represent the Department’s current high-priority focus areas for future capability development. These are not isolated technical topics—instead, they’re mission-driven challenges that require integrated solutions from across disciplines, sectors, and technical domains.

Think of Innovation Thrusts as DoD’s “grand challenges”—complex problem sets where solving them will unlock next-generation operational advantage. They often cut across multiple scientific fields, technologies, and platforms, and signal where the Department is actively looking to partner with innovators.

Examples might include:

Adapting to climate and energy security risks

Securing contested logistics and supply chains

Defending against emerging biological threats

These Thrusts evolve over time in response to geopolitical shifts, operational needs, and rapid technological change.

How Are Innovation Thrusts Different from Other S&T Priorities?

To better understand the full picture, here’s a quick breakdown:

Term	Description	Who Should Care
Innovation Thrusts	Mission-focused problem areas that require cross-cutting innovation. These are the “why” behind DoD’s pursuit of new capabilities.	Companies, researchers, and problem-solvers who want to align with the Department’s future-facing operational goals.
Foundational Research Areas (FRAs)	Core scientific disciplines supported by the Basic Research Office. These are the “building blocks” of future capabilities.	Academic researchers and early-stage innovators contributing to long-term discovery.
Critical Technology Areas (CTAs)	Specific technical domains identified as essential to U.S. national security. These are the “what” the DoD is investing in.	Developers of cutting-edge tech—from AI to quantum systems—who want to know where the DoD is placing strategic bets.

Why This Matters to You

Understanding how your work fits into this framework can help you:

Tailor your proposals and engagements to align with DoD priorities

Identify which part of the ecosystem is the right entry point for your innovation

Anticipate where future funding, partnership, or prototyping opportunities may arise

Whether you’re building an early-stage technology or a mature dual-use solution, mapping your work to these categories is a key step in getting on the DoD’s radar.

Explore the Innovation Thrusts

Explore the current Innovation Thrusts listed below. For each one, we’ve provided a plain-language description, why it matters to national defense, and examples of relevant technologies or capabilities. If you see a match with your work—this could be your path in.

Foundational Research Areas

Delve into the building blocks of tomorrow’s technologies, focusing on Biotechnology, Quantum Science, and Advanced Materials. These areas fuel essential scientific breakthroughs that underpin future innovations in both defense and commercial sectors.

Biotechnology

Quantum Science

Advanced Materials

Strategic Military Applications

Explore cutting-edge defense technologies tailored for national security, featuring Directed Energy, Hypersonics, and Integrated Sensing & Cyber capabilities. These innovations deliver transformative military advantages and maintain strategic superiority.

Direct Energy

Hypersonics

Integrated Sensing & Cyber

Cross-Cutting Enablers

Unlock future-proof solutions with enabling technologies that support and integrate diverse technological initiatives. These include FutureG, Human-Machine Interfaces, and Networked Systems.

Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Microelectronics

Space

Renewable Energy

Advanced Computing

Commercial Technology Integration

Harness breakthrough market innovations by leveraging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), Microelectronics, Space, Renewable Energy, and Advanced Computing. This thrust ensures that state-of-the-art solutions transition seamlessly into commercial applications.

FutureG: FutureG Overview

Human-Machine Interfaces: Human Systems Directorate

Networked Systems

The ASD (R&E) Science & Technology Ecosystem

The Department of Defense (DoD) science and technology (S&T) ecosystem is vast, layered, and constantly evolving. It spans early-stage research, advanced prototyping, and operational innovation—connecting academia, industry, government labs, and the warfighter. Within this ecosystem, the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Science and Technology (ASD(S&T)) plays a central role in shaping strategy, coordinating efforts, and driving progress across domains.

This interactive map offers a high-level view of some of the key components and activities that fall under the ASD (S&T) umbrella. While not exhaustive, it is designed to help you navigate the landscape and better understand the diverse programs, partnerships, and pathways that power DoD innovation.

Click on each circle to explore the individual initiatives and entities and check back often—new elements and updated details will continue to be added as the ecosystem grows.