Our Strategic Foundation

For example, deeper insights from neuroscience, such as how the human brain processes information, are unleashing new means of artificial intelligence that are certain to revolutionize many industry sectors, such as health care and finance. Another is leveraging quantum mechanics to create quantum computers that will offer exponential gains in computational power at a fraction of the energy used to power today’s silicon-based machines.

These paradigm-shifting discoveries arrive at a pivotal time. Global communities face daunting challenges—from climate disruption and environmental degradation to resource depletion and widespread health disparities—that demand creative engineering solutions that can rapidly scale. Much like when our nation rallied in the 1960s to put a person on the moon, we are now primed to pursue bold technological solutions to new challenges. A decade of public investment in science and technology took us into space with computers less powerful than a modern watch. Imagine what we can achieve today.

Given the scale and complexity of the challenges we face, the success of our solutions will not solely depend on technological performance. For collective action problems such as climate change, solutions will require financial and policy innovation as well to ensure market forces advance the good of the community. The sheer technological power behind these solutions simultaneously demands that we intentionally embed human values and social accountability into every layer of technological progress.

Yet even amid such opportunities, genuine headwinds challenge our progress. The supply of domestic talent interested in engineering remains insufficient for the growth of the nation’s engineering workforce, limiting our ability to solve the grand challenges that lie ahead. At the same time, public skepticism toward higher education and publicly funded research creates additional hurdles, threatening the sustainability of the innovation ecosystem that has long underpinned our nation’s progress. Addressing these barriers requires purposeful advocacy for stronger STEM education, increased public scientific literacy, and deeper collaborations among academia, industry, and communities.

We believe technology, when paired with human talent, is among the most powerful forces for advancing the common good.

As scientific progress accelerates, engineers have ever-expanding opportunities to shape a better future. Highly disruptive technologies—such as artificial general intelligence (AGI), precision biologics, quantum computing, and even deep space technologies—are on our horizon.

At Duke Engineering, we are committed to advancing these technologies while preparing the next generation of leaders to apply them to society’s greatest challenges from climate change to national security. If engineering exists to serve society, we must ask: What kind of society will we build?

Our vision is that of engineers boldly creating an innovative, smart, healthy, and sustainable society that uplifts all people.

To deliver on that promise, engineering must strategically invest in four technological themes essential to solving the greatest societal challenges of the 21st century: computing, materials, climate, and health technologies.

Engineering programs should produce socially engaged technology leaders who can solve complex global challenges while advancing the common good. Duke Engineering has long led in design-based experiential learning, embedding real-world projects and stakeholder engagement across our curriculum. Our introduction of entrepreneurship training ensures students are not just inventors, but innovators willing to take risks and to maximize their impact.

Yet, we know that true transformation demands more. Our vision is to explicitly bring character development into the design of our curricular and co-curricular programs. Cultivating student virtues like perseverance, patience, courage, truthfulness, and integrity alongside deep technical expertise will produce the principled technology leaders of tomorrow.

We view purposeful partnerships as essential to our capacity to engineer a better society.

Beyond our long-standing collaborations with industry on research and technology translation, we must forge new alliances with K-12 educators and workforce development programs to broaden access and to produce a future engineering workforce more reflective of the communities we strive to serve.

Despite its profound benefits, we also recognize a growing skepticism toward higher education. Engineering must advocate for greater public technology literacy and engage policymakers on how technology drives social progress and solves societal problems. By partnering with local communities, our students will learn to innovate in the messiness of the real world by navigating the political, economic, and ethical dimensions of their technological solutions.

At Duke Engineering, the pace of progress is unmistakable. Faculty are pushing boundaries in emerging fields with the potential to reshape lives. Students are turning ideas into action—launching ventures, leading design teams, and working in communities near and far. Alumni are re-engaging with purpose, offering mentorship, opening doors, and helping us to extend our reach.

We’ve laid out a vision that reflects who we are and where we’re headed—bold in ambition, grounded in values, and ready for what’s next.

This is our time to move from vision to reality.
Not just to imagine a smarter, healthier, more just society—but to build it.

Together, we are MADE FOR THIS.

Our strategic vision comes to life through focused, measurable action. The following priorities connect this vision to the next phase: Pratt 2039. Each reflects our commitment to progress that is interdisciplinary, inclusive, and built to last.