Stanford's 2025 Emerging Tech Report: Shaping America's Innovation Narrative

In a groundbreaking release, the 2025 edition of the Stanford Emerging Technology Review (SETR) report has been unveiled to guide American policymakers through the transformative impact of ten frontier technologies. This collaborative effort between the Hoover Institution and Stanford School of Engineering delves into innovations from artificial intelligence to robotics, providing a vital primer for both current and future challenges.

Expanding the Lens on Technology

The report brings together insights from nearly one hundred experts spanning forty departments and research institutes. With a focus on clarity and practical impact for non-specialist audiences, SETR lays out the foundational concepts, recent advancements, and future directions of key technological domains. The review covers:

• Artificial Intelligence: Enabling transformative changes across industries.
• Synthetic Biology: Revolutionizing health, agriculture, and environmental management.
• Robotics and Neuroscience: Pushing the boundaries in automation and cognitive sciences.
• Lasers & Cryptography: Paving new avenues in security and communication.
• Semiconductors, Materials Science, and Sustainable Energy: Driving economic competitiveness and environmental sustainability.
• Space Technologies: Expanding the frontier of human exploration and security.

Three Pillars Guiding SETR

The SETR initiative is anchored by three key observations:

1. America’s Global Innovation Edge: Essential for maintaining a dynamic tech ecosystem and reaping its benefits.
2. Academia’s Crucial Role: Independent research is the backbone of breakthrough innovations, regardless of immediate commercial gain.
3. Stanford’s Unique Positioning: Nestled in Silicon Valley, Stanford continuously interprets and predicts tech trends that influence both industry and policy.

A Call for Informed Leadership

Hoover Institution Director Condoleezza Rice, co-chairing the initiative, emphasized the boundless promise of emerging technologies if decision makers have the foresight to embrace both the opportunities and the accompanying challenges. Alongside Engineering School Dean Jennifer Widom, Rice and key senior fellows advocate for a strategic approach to innovation—one that ensures a democratic society leads in shaping tomorrow’s tech landscape.

Amy Zegart, SETR co-chair and Hoover Senior Fellow, underlined the urgent need for a coordinated effort as technological change accelerates. With diverse interactions between emerging fields, the report provides a navigational tool for government and business leaders alike.

Navigating the Complex Technological Landscape

Each chapter of the report offers:

• Clear Explanations: Simplifying the fundamental concepts of each technology.
• Up-to-Date Insights: Highlighting recent breakthroughs and imminent developments.
• Cross-Domain Analysis: Evaluating how technology sectors interact and influence policy, economic growth, security, environmental sustainability, and public health.

Outreach That Makes an Impact

Beyond the printed pages, SETR is a dynamic initiative that has engaged senior officials from the White House, Congress, and federal agencies. In the past year, its experts have delivered briefings, organized congressional bootcamps, and hosted roundtables with media and international partners. The report’s online presence is further enriched by podcasts, videos, and interactive social media content designed to reach the broader public.

On February 25, 2025, the report will launch in Washington, DC, with a series of events and briefings. Key figures, including Senators Todd Young and John Hickenlooper, and influencers like Fei-Fei Li and Mark Horowitz, will share their insights, ensuring that the conversation around advancing frontier technologies remains vibrant and inclusive.

To explore the report in detail, download the 2025 Stanford Emerging Technology Review.