Overview

We are excited to announce the Call for Papers and Research Competition for the inaugural issue of the TechNatSec Journal, published in partnership with the MIT–Harvard Technology & National Security Conference (April 3–4, 2026).

Submitting to this competition is a great opportunity to showcase your research, and engage directly with policymakers, warfighters, investors, and leading academic and industry experts who will be attending the conference.

This inaugural initiative seeks to highlight the cutting-edge research and ideas shaping defense, technology, and security. Selected authors will have their work published as part of the TechNatSec Review and on either the Harvard Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs or MIT Mission Innovation X (MIx) websites. 

Finalists will be invited to present their research at the April conference before an audience of peers, faculty, and industry experts. Each finalist will prepare a poster board and a 10-minute presentation for evaluation by a faculty and industry review panel.

Suggested Topics

Submissions are encouraged across a broad range of topics aligned with the theme “Innovating on the Frontlines,” including emerging defense technologies, industrial and economic resilience, and the evolving nature of warfare and national security strategy.

• Emerging defense technologies may cover areas such as AI, autonomy, biotech, manufacturing, remote sensing, and space systems. 

• Industrial and economic resilience may encompass state capital, acquisition, investment, and supply chains.

• The evolving nature of warfare includes intelligence, information operations, and doctrinal adaptation in the face of emerging technology. 

Scope of submissions: While technical rigor is valued, this call seeks accessible, forward-looking research and analysis that highlights how technology, policy, and strategy advance national and global security. Submissions need not include formal statistical or experimental results; conceptual, design-oriented, policy, or case-based analyses are equally encouraged.

Competition Format

1. Abstract Submission
   Authors submit a 400 word abstract summarizing their research question, methodology, and key contribution, along with a 100-word author biography.
   
   

2. Full Manuscript Submission
   Selected abstracts will be invited to submit a full paper (5,000–8,000 words), following APA 7th Edition citation format.

3. Conference Portion
   Accepted authors will be invited to present during the MIT–Harvard TechNatSec Conference (April 3–4, 2026).
   
   

   • • Presentations: Authors will give 10–12 minute talks summarizing their findings.

     • Poster Competition: Authors will also participate in a poster session; TechNatSec organizers will print posters for display at the conference. 

Timeline

• Dec 19, 2025 (11:59 PM EST) - Abstract and author biography due

• Early Jan 2026 - Invitations sent for full manuscript submission

• Mar 1, 2026 (11:59 PM EST) - Full manuscripts due (if selected)

• Mid-Mar 2026 - Public announcement of selected papers to be posted and reviewer feedback for selected papers

• Apr 3, 2026 - Conference competition per track and poster presentations

• Mid-Apr 2026 - Selected papers published on Harvard Belfer Center’s or MIx’s websites 

Submission Guidelines

To confirm your participation, please email callforpapers@technatsec.com by December 19, 2025, with an abstract and a brief author biography. 

• Abstract: 400 words

• Author bio: Approximately 100 words per author, including institutional affiliation and research focus.

If selected:

• Full papers: 5,000–8,000 words (APA 7th edition citation style)

Evaluation Criteria

Submissions will be evaluated on:

• Novelty and originality of research contribution

• Academic rigor and validity of data and analysis

• Relevance and application to defense, security, and technology challenges

Rights and Permissions

Authors retain full ownership rights to their research and may publish their work elsewhere after the conference. By submitting, authors grant TechNatSec, the Harvard Belfer Center, and MIT MIx permission to:

• Display accepted papers and abstracts online and in print for conference use

• Distribute the publication as part of the TechNatSec Conference

Authors are responsible for obtaining permissions for any copyrighted material (tables, figures, or data) used in their submission.

Learn More

For questions, please contact: callforpapers@technatsec.com