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Technology topic
Emerging Technologies (EM)
Breakthroughs at the edge of science and engineering are reshaping industries, redefining human capabilities, and creating new market spaces. The Emerging Technologies topic within the NSF Small Business Innovation Research/Small Business Technology Transfer program is designed for startups working on transformative innovations that defy conventional classifications — pioneering discoveries that could set the stage for the next technological revolution.
This topic is for radical, high-risk ideas that leverage deep science and engineering to push beyond existing limitations. Proposals should introduce disruptive, category-defining solutions that may not fit within traditional NSF topic areas but have the potential to create entirely new industries or fundamentally alter how we interact with the world.
Examples include, but are not limited to:
- Post-Silicon Computation & Intelligent Systems: Quantum logic, molecular computing or bio-inspired artificial intelligence architectures
- Matter & Machines at the Extreme: Self-assembling nanostructures, programmable materials, or biohybrid robotic systems that blur the lines between biology and engineering
- Living Technologies & Engineered Evolution: Synthetic biology innovations that harness evolution to create self-improving therapeutics, biocomputers, or sustainable biomaterials
- Radical Energy & Resilient Earth Innovations: Zero-point energy exploration, deep-space resource utilization, or engineered photosynthesis for planetary-scale impact
- Cognition & Human Augmentation: Direct brain-machine integration, digital telepathy, or neuroplasticity-enhancing interfaces that redefine intelligence
- Unconventional Sensing & Interaction: Quantum sensors, femtosecond imaging, or technologies enabling new dimensions of perception If your startup is pioneering a new technological paradigm, building something that did not exist before, and pushing the limits of what's possible, the Emerging Technologies topic is your opportunity to secure early-stage funding for world-changing innovation.
Sub-Topics
EM1. Emerging Technologies