Research Activities & Programs

Activities and programs listed below include links from this Web site and from Department of Homeland Security component agency Web sites.

Borders and Maritime Security projects develop and transition tools and technologies that improve the security of our nation's borders and waterways without impeding the flow of commerce and travelers.

Chemical and Biological projects increase the nation's preparedness against chemical and biological threats through improved threat awareness, advanced surveillance and detection, and protective countermeasures.

Command, Control, and Interoperability projects develop interoperable communication standards and protocols for emergency responders, cybersecurity tools for protecting the integrity of the Internet, and automated capabilities to recognize and analyze potential threats.

Explosives projects develop the technical capabilities to detect, interdict, and lessen the impacts of non-nuclear explosives used in terrorist attacks against mass transit, civil aviation, and critical infrastructure.

Human Factors Behavioral Sciences projects apply the social and behavioral sciences to improve detection, analysis, and understanding and response to homeland security threats.

Infrastructure and Geophysical projects focus on identifying and mitigating the vulnerabilities of the 18 critical infrastructure and key assets that keep our society and economy functioning.

Homeland Security Centers of Excellence bring together leading experts and researchers to conduct multidisciplinary research and education for homeland security solutions.

Homeland Security Institute is the Department's first government think tank and federally funded research and development center.

Homeland Security Advanced Research Projects Agency (HSARPA) focuses on homeland security research and development that could lead to significant technology breakthroughs and greatly enhance departmental operations.

Office of National Laboratories (ONL) provides a coordinated, enduring core of productive science, technology, and engineering laboratories, organizations, and institutions, which can provide the knowledge and technology required to secure the nation.

SAFETY Act provides liability protections that make it feasible for sellers of qualified antiterrorism technologies to introduce homeland security solutions to the marketplace.

Science & Technology Standards address the standards needs of homeland security customers at multiple levels: Department operational components, state and local governments, and the private sector. These standards help the nation's emergency responders acquire equipment, procedures, and mitigation processes that are safe, reliable, and effective.

SECURE is the Department's innovative business initiative that enables public and private entities to collaborate on developing products and services rapidly to protect the homeland to the benefit of taxpayers, the private sector, and the Department.

S&T Snapshots newsletter features stories about current research projects and opportunities with laboratories, universities, government agencies, and the private sector.

Tech Solutions provides information, resources, and technology solutions that address mission capability gaps identified by the emergency response community.