CAE ’s work programme is focused on the following five key areas – areas that we judge as being vital for New Zealand ’s economic growth and sustainable development:

Oceans	New Zealand is claiming exclusive rights to the fourth largest area of ocean in the world. Enormous national assets are at stake, including minerals and hydrocarbons, fish and other biological assets, along with potential in areas such as biotechnology and ocean tourism. Our vision is to see New Zealand recognised as a world leader in oceans management.
Infrastructure systems	Critical to New Zealand's economic growth and our communities' vitality is the renewal and extenstion of our built infrastructure. CAE is a leader in developing a more thorough understanding of the future infrastructure needs of New Zealand and the vulnerability of local infrastructure to natural hazards. The use of systems approaches to improve understanding of the connections and inter-dependancies that govern infrastructure investment forms the basis for ongoing activity within this area.
Risk management	Risk management is now widely used as a decision making tool. Through bringing together systems thinking and risk assessment techniques developed from engineering practice, CAE projects offer integrated approaches to solving complex issues. We are also helping to communicate risk management outcomes in ways that are meaningful to the practitioner and non-specialist alike.
Technologies for sustainability	CAE seeks to advance environmental sustainability in New Zealand by improving best practice and levels of resource stewardship and technology application. Our focus is on stimulating collaborative action on the identified knowledge gaps in sustainable management practice, and raising awareness of the underlying technology and science opportunities.
Emerging technologies	CAE is acting as a catalyst for enabling New Zealand organisations to achieve world-class delivery or best practice. We do this through providing channels into specific areas of expertise, and research relevant to current industry capability. Our aim is to bring together ideas and new opportunities for collaboration, and to lift industry/university linkages to new levels of research excellence and investment.