Emerging Technology
day one project

A Civic Research Initiative to Transform State and Local Government

04.24.20 | 1 min read | Text by Ben Levine

Summary

State and local governments are not taking full advantage of data and technology innovation that could help address key priorities such as delivery of local public services, management and design of the built environment, and fulfillment of climate goals. Supporting innovation across these domains is difficult for state and local governments due to limited technical staff, procurement challenges, and poor incentives and mechanisms to develop and scale creative solutions. Civic research is a collaborative process for addressing public priorities and improving communities by connecting technical experts to policymakers and civic partners, creating a platform for evidence-based, research-informed action. This process relies on partnerships among universities, state and local agencies, and community organizations, and has proven successful in communities nationwide. This paper recommends seven actions the next administration can take to advance civic research nationwide.

publications
See all publications
Emerging Technology
day one project
Policy Memo
Terminal Patients Need Better Access to Drugs and Clinical Trial Information

Modernizing ClinicalTrials.gov will empower patients, oncologists, and others to better understand what trials are available, where they are available, and their up-to-date eligibility criteria, using standardized search categories to make them more easily discoverable.

07.30.25 | 18 min read
read more
Emerging Technology
Blog
What’s Progress and What’s Not in the Trump Administration’s AI Action Plan

The current lack of public trust in AI risks inhibiting innovation and adoption of AI systems, meaning new methods will not be discovered and new benefits won’t be felt. A failure to uphold high standards in the technology we deploy will also place our nation at a strategic disadvantage compared to our competitors.

07.28.25 | 6 min read
read more
Emerging Technology
Policy Memo
A National Institute for High-Reward Research

We need a new agency that specializes in uncovering funding opportunities that were overlooked elsewhere. Judging from the history of scientific breakthroughs, the benefits could be quite substantial.

07.23.25 | 6 min read
read more
Emerging Technology
day one project
Policy Memo
Digital Product Passports: Transforming America’s Linear Economy to Combat Waste, Counterfeits, and Supply Chain Vulnerabilities

A shift toward more circular, transparent systems would not only reduce waste and increase efficiency, but also unlock new business models, strengthen supply chain resilience, and give consumers better, more reliable information about the products they choose.

07.16.25 | 10 min read
read more