Key Takeaways
- The Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI) has released its 2025 update to the Critical Technology Tracker, which maps 74 strategically important technologies.
- China leads in 66 of the 74 technologies, while the United States leads in eight, with additional strengths distributed across the EU, UK, India, and South Korea.
- The Tracker analyzes the top 10% most-cited research outputs in each field, providing an early signal of where global capability is accelerating.
- The insights from the Tracker can help research leaders anticipate shifts in federal priorities, identify emerging partnerships, and ensure institutional strategies stay aligned with rapidly evolving global landscapes in critical and dual-use technologies.
Introduction to the Critical Technology Tracker
The Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI) is an independent, nonpartisan think tank that focuses on defense, technology, and national security. Recently, the ASPI released its 2025 update to the Critical Technology Tracker, a tool that maps strategically important technologies. The Tracker has been updated to include 10 new fields, such as generative AI, brain–computer interfaces, advanced communications, and geoengineering, bringing the total number of technologies tracked to 74. This update provides valuable insights into the current state of critical technologies and their potential impact on global landscapes.
Global Leadership in Critical Technologies
The 2025 update to the Critical Technology Tracker highlights significant movement in the global leadership of critical technologies. China is currently leading in 66 of the 74 technologies tracked, while the United States is leading in eight. The remaining technologies are led by other countries, including the EU, UK, India, and South Korea. This distribution of leadership highlights the increasingly global nature of critical technologies and the need for countries to stay competitive in these areas. The Tracker’s analysis of the top 10% most-cited research outputs in each field provides an early signal of where global capability is accelerating, allowing countries to anticipate and respond to emerging trends.
The Importance of the Critical Technology Tracker
The Critical Technology Tracker is an important tool for research leaders, as it provides insights into the current state of critical technologies and their potential impact on global landscapes. The Tracker’s analysis can help research leaders anticipate shifts in federal priorities, identify emerging partnerships, and ensure that institutional strategies stay aligned with rapidly evolving global landscapes in critical and dual-use technologies. This is particularly important in today’s fast-paced technological environment, where new breakthroughs and innovations are constantly emerging. By staying informed about the latest developments in critical technologies, research leaders can make informed decisions about where to focus their efforts and resources.
Emerging Technologies and Trends
The 2025 update to the Critical Technology Tracker includes 10 new fields, such as generative AI, brain–computer interfaces, advanced communications, and geoengineering. These emerging technologies have the potential to significantly impact various aspects of society, from healthcare and transportation to energy and the environment. The Tracker’s analysis of these technologies provides valuable insights into their current state and potential future developments. For example, generative AI has the potential to revolutionize industries such as healthcare and finance, while brain–computer interfaces could enable new forms of human-computer interaction. By tracking these emerging technologies, the ASPI can provide research leaders with the information they need to stay ahead of the curve and make informed decisions about where to focus their efforts.
Conclusion and Future Directions
In conclusion, the 2025 update to the Critical Technology Tracker provides valuable insights into the current state of critical technologies and their potential impact on global landscapes. The Tracker’s analysis of the top 10% most-cited research outputs in each field provides an early signal of where global capability is accelerating, allowing countries to anticipate and respond to emerging trends. As the technological landscape continues to evolve, it is essential for research leaders to stay informed about the latest developments in critical technologies. The ASPI’s Critical Technology Tracker is an important tool for achieving this goal, and its updates will be closely watched by research leaders and policymakers around the world. By providing insights into emerging technologies and trends, the Tracker can help shape the future of critical technologies and ensure that they are developed and used in ways that benefit society as a whole.
