Hewlett Foundation Launches $100 Million Initiative for Emerging Technology and Security

On July 21, 2026, the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation introduced a significant new undertaking—an ambitious, five-year grant initiative worth $100 million aiming to stimulate innovation while ensuring the secure development of emerging technologies. This launch took place at the renowned Aspen Security Forum and is set to confront pressing challenges in areas like artificial intelligence, biotechnology, and quantum computing, all with the goal of safeguarding individuals both domestically and globally.

The initiative represents a culmination of efforts that began earlier this year with $10 million in exploratory grants directed towards esteemed institutions including Stanford's Hoover Institution and Vanderbilt University's Institute of National Security. An additional $10 million is slated for distribution through 2026, reinforcing the foundation's commitment to these critical areas.

"Rapidly emerging technologies like AI hold extraordinary promise while posing novel security challenges," said Amber D. Miller, President of the Hewlett Foundation. She highlighted the foundation's approach, stating that innovation and safety should be seen as complementary forces rather than opposing priorities.

The initiative recognizes a growing public concern that both industry and government may struggle to strike a prudent balance between encouraging innovation and maintaining cybersecurity measures. To address this gap, the foundation plans to support civil society organizations, universities, think tanks, and independent institutions through three primary focus areas:

1. Protect Critical Infrastructure: Enhancing the resilience of vital systems such as power grids, water supply chains, healthcare facilities, and the information ecosystem against AI-driven threats, both at home and globally.
2. Address Emerging Technology Vulnerabilities: Mitigating security risks presented by AI and other rapidly evolving technologies, particularly in the spheres of biotechnology and quantum computing, while there are still viable opportunities for safeguards.
3. Support Global Governance: Aiding U.S. states, allied nations, and other competent entities around the world in formulating responsible governance structures and ethical frameworks for emerging technologies, thereby bolstering American leadership in the global arena.

This latest initiative is an extension of the Hewlett Foundation's six-decade-long dedication to technology and security, which includes its decade-old Cyber Initiative that pioneered cyber policy as an academic discipline. The foundation places a strong emphasis on solutions grounded in empirical evidence, aimed directly at addressing relevant security challenges of the present.

Eli Sugarman, director of special projects overseeing the initiative, remarked, "Much of the ongoing dialogue around AI and emerging technologies often overlooks the questions that resonate most with ordinary people—their safety and the impacts of these technologies on their families." He emphasized that the initiative's focus is on pragmatic, evidence-based problem-solving, harnessing creative minds to tackle critical cybersecurity issues while facilitating discussions among a diverse range of stakeholders across government, industry, and civil society.

The Hewlett Foundation is committed to nurturing success through a broad coalition of partnerships, which includes encouraging a cooperative dialogue with technology firms centered on shared safety objectives, while never losing sight of the independence of civil society.

For additional information, visit hewlett.org/emerging-tech-and-security.