DHS Science and Technology

What DHS Science and Technology does

DHS Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) is the research and development arm of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Established in 2003 and headquartered in Washington, DC, it operates a portfolio of programs spanning artificial intelligence and autonomous systems, border security, chemical/biological/explosive defense, counter-terrorism, cybersecurity, first responder capability, food and agriculture defense, integrated disaster resilience, physical security and critical infrastructure resilience, and wildfire technology. Service offerings include a network of national laboratories (notably the National Urban Security Technology Laboratory, or NUSTL), technology centers, test and evaluation capabilities, systems engineering and standards development, technology scouting, operations and requirements analysis, a technology clearinghouse, university programs, innovation funding programs, and SAFETY Act administration for liability protections on qualified anti-terrorism technologies.

Name

DHS Science and Technology

Legal name

Science and Technology Directorate (Department of Homeland Security)

Website

https://scitech.dhs.gov

Company type

Public

Founded year

2003

Operating status

Operating

Short description

DHS Science and Technology Directorate is the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's R&D arm, operating national laboratories, technology centers, and advisory programs including the new C-UAS Purchasing Tool supporting FEMA's $250 million counter-UAS grant for the FIFA World Cup 2026.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Government Homeland Security R&D and Technology Assessment

NAICS

Scientific Research and Development Services (5417), Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (54171)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

Defense R&D, Test, Evaluation & Innovation (BPAIAHAC)

akta.pro secondary industry

Defense Infrastructure, Installations & Base Operations (BPAIAHAK)

Keywords

• Homeland security research
• Counter-drone technology
• National laboratory R&D
• Security technology procurement
• Emergency response systems

Headquarters

HQ city

Washington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Operations, Others

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels1 record

Core offering

DHS Science and Technology is the research, development, test, and evaluation arm of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. It operates national laboratories, technology centers, and a portfolio of R&D programs covering areas such as cybersecurity, counter-UAS, chemical/biological defense, and first-responder capability, and it provides federal, state, and local agencies with technology guidance, standards, test services, and procurement tools such as the C-UAS Purchasing Tool.

Product overview

DHS Science and Technology Directorate serves as the research and development arm of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. It is not a single commercial product but rather a collection of research programs, technical advisory services, and specialized capabilities. The main product mentioned is the C-UAS Purchasing Tool developed by NUSTL to help cities prepare for the FIFA World Cup 2026. Additional offerings include various national laboratory services, technology centers, test and evaluation capabilities, systems engineering and standards work, technology scouting, operations and requirements analysis, technology clearinghouse, university programs, innovation funding programs, and SAFETY Act support. These research and advisory services collectively form the DHS S&T portfolio to secure the homeland.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• National Urban Security Technology Laboratory (NUSTL): A laboratory within S&T that serves as the primary federal lab for the homeland security community, focusing on urban security technologies.

Products and services

• C-UAS Purchasing Tool A purchasing guidance tool published by the National Urban Security Technology Laboratory (NUSTL) to help FIFA World Cup 2026 host cities select and procure counter-unmanned aircraft systems (C-UAS). It provides data-driven guidance to federal, state, and local security agencies to support coordinated deployment without equipment interference.
• DHS S&T Research Programs Portfolio of research and development programs covering Artificial Intelligence and Autonomous Systems, Border Security, Chemical/Biological/Explosive Defense, Counter-Terrorism, Cybersecurity, First Responder Capability, Food and Agriculture Defense, Integrated Disaster Resilience, Physical Security and Critical Infrastructure Resilience, and Wildfire Technology.
• National Laboratories National laboratory network supporting DHS research, development, test, and evaluation activities, including the National Urban Security Technology Laboratory (NUSTL) which serves as the primary federal laboratory for the urban homeland security community.
• Technology Centers DHS S&T technology centers providing specialized research and development capabilities across homeland security mission areas.
• Test and Evaluation Services Test and evaluation services used to assess homeland security technologies before deployment, including counter-UAS system assessments.
• Systems Engineering and Standards Systems engineering and standards development services that establish interoperability and performance baselines for homeland security equipment across agencies.
• Technology Scouting Services that identify emerging technologies relevant to homeland security applications and surface them across the homeland security enterprise.
• Operations and Requirements Analysis Operations and requirements analysis capabilities supporting DHS components and partner agencies in defining mission needs and translating them into technical requirements.
• Technology Clearinghouse A clearinghouse for sharing R&D findings and technologies across the homeland security enterprise.
• University Programs DHS S&T university partnership and research programs that fund and coordinate homeland security research across U.S. academic institutions.
• Innovation Funding Programs Innovation funding programs that finance development of homeland security technologies.
• SAFETY Act Administers the SAFETY Act program providing liability protections for qualified anti-terrorism technologies developed by the private sector.

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Recent moves4 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• RAND Corporation: Nonprofit, nonpartisan research organization providing analysis and research to the U.S. government on national security, homeland security, and public safety. Comparable in delivering objective research and policy/technology analysis to federal sponsors.
• MITRE Corporation: Federally funded research and development center (FFRDC) operating systems engineering, integration, and research centers across multiple federal agencies, including homeland security sponsors. Comparable as a publicly funded advisory and systems engineering organization supporting U.S. government missions.
• Battelle Memorial Institute: Largest nonprofit applied science and technology research and development organization, operating several national laboratories for the federal government. Comparable in operating federal research assets and providing government R&D, test, and evaluation services.

Broad incumbents

• National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST): Federal agency within the Department of Commerce that drives measurement science, standards, and technology research. Comparable as a federally funded research organization providing standards and technology assessment that informs procurement and policy decisions.
• Department of Energy Office of Science: Federal agency overseeing U.S. investment in physical sciences research across national laboratories. Comparable in role as a federal R&D sponsor and coordinator of large-scale national security-relevant research portfolios.
• Sandia National Laboratories: Federally funded research and development center managed for the Department of Energy with national security missions including counterterrorism and critical infrastructure protection. Overlaps with S&T on homeland security R&D and test/evaluation.
• Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA): Federal R&D agency within the Department of Defense responsible for breakthrough technologies for national security. Directly comparable to S&T in role and structure as a government R&D directorate, though operating under DoD rather than DHS.

Direct peers

• Air Force Research Laboratory: Air Force's primary scientific research and development center, focused on aerospace and defense technologies. Comparable in function as a military service-led R&D laboratory delivering technology, test, and evaluation capabilities.
• U.S. Naval Research Laboratory: Corporate federal laboratory of the Navy conducting broad multidisciplinary scientific research and advanced technology development. Directly comparable as a federal research laboratory under the broader national security umbrella.
• U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command (DEVCOM) Army Research Laboratory: Federally funded research laboratory conducting R&D for Army and broader defense needs. Comparable as a U.S. federal service laboratory with similar R&D, test, and evaluation mission and government funding model.

Market position

Strengths3 records

Weaknesses3 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks4 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/DHSGov
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@dhs
• Facebookfacebook.com/DHSGov
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/dhs
• Instagraminstagram.com/dhsgov

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about DHS Science and Technology