Policy areas
These pages highlight key readings, fellowships, think tanks, and other resources to learn about specific emerging technology policy areas.
AI policy
AI systems are advancing rapidly, raising complex challenges for society. AI governance is essential in dealing with those challenges and many organizations, both in and outside of government, are contributing to it.
Biosecurity policy
Progress in biotechnology can improve health, economic growth, and pandemic preparedness, but it could also exacerbate biological threats, whether natural, accidental, or deliberate. Policymakers play a key role in shaping this technology.
China and tech policy
China’s influence is growing across various areas of science and technology—including AI, telecommunications, robotics, semiconductors, biotechnology, and more—a trend shaped by and contributing to dynamics of geopolitical competition.
Civic tech
The civic tech community aims to empower citizens, fostering civic engagement and enhancing the relationship between citizens and government. It uses technology to address societal challenges and make government work better.
Cyber policy
As our world becomes increasingly connected, cyberspace has become a new frontier of geopolitical contention. Cybersecurity and digital policies are crucial in safeguarding nations and their citizens from cyber threats.
Federal R&D funding
Federal R&D funding—public dollars allocated by the US government to support scientific and technological progress—is among the strongest policy tools for shaping national innovation. Spawned out of Cold War ambitions to demonstrate and advance US technological superiority, today’s federal R&D enterprise spends $200 billion annually to initiate, accelerate, and guide progress at the frontiers of discovery.
Regulatory policy
This guide covers the fundamentals of US regulatory policy at the federal level and its role in shaping emerging technologies. It walks through the regulatory process and key players, and discusses career opportunities in regulatory policy.
Nuclear security policy
Nuclear weapons have been at the heart of US national security since World War II and technological progress might impact risks from nuclear accidents or deterrence failures. Since the dawn of the nuclear age, policy professionals have been vital in managing these risks.
Space policy
As aerospace technologies develop, space is becoming increasingly important for science, business, diplomacy, and international security. Space policy addresses complex issues like exploration, commercialization, and security beyond Earth.