ONR unveils 2026 science and technology strategy to guide Navy and Marine Corps future technology

ARLINGTON, Va. — The Office of Naval Research has unveiled a new science and technology strategy designed to reshape how the Navy and Marine Corps identify priorities, fund research, and move promising ideas into the fleet at a faster clip amid intensifying global competition and rapid technological change.

“In this important moment in time, we have embarked on a journey to refine how we do every part of our business — to make transparent what we are solving for, what bets we will place across our portfolio, and how we will measure whether and how they have paid off,” said Chief of Naval Research (CNR) Dr. Rachel Riley.

Framed around a concept the office calls “FEED at Speed,” the plan seeks to:
– Focus investments on “Only ONR” problems—high-impact, naval-unique challenges the commercial market is unlikely to solve—while culling efforts that don’t fit that test, and establishing defined S&T focus areas to steer long-term bets.
– Explain the operational relevance of every program and require clear transition paths so projects are tied to real-world naval missions and potential fielding.
– Engage more deliberately with the broader defense and innovation ecosystem—acquisition leaders, operational commanders, industry, and academia—to break down institutional silos and close the gap between prototypes and full-scale deployment, including through new Innovation Industry Days.
– Deploy with an emphasis on outcomes, measuring success by capabilities delivered to operators rather than demonstrations alone, and accelerating movement from labs to the Fleet and Force.
– Move at speed by harnessing artificial intelligence to compress research timelines and tackle complex problems, while building in validation and ethical safeguards.

The strategy also flags a set of pressures shaping ONR’s mission: the accelerating pace and complexity of technological change; shifting patterns of conflict; sharper strategic competition; surging global investment in defense innovation; longstanding barriers that impede technology transition; and the need to juggle urgent near-term demands with long-horizon breakthroughs.

“This S&T Strategy represents a commitment to discipline, focus and a renewed sense of urgency,” said Riley. “By adhering to the principles outlined in the strategy, ONR will continue to fulfill its vital mission and ensure the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps remain the world’s most formidable naval force — today and for generations to come.”

The document is posted on ONR’s website: https://www.onr.navy.mil/media/document/office-naval-research-science-technology-strategy.