ACT-IAC Establishes Institute for Innovation

The American Council for Technology-Industry Advisory Council today announced the creation of an Institute for Innovation to provide an objective and non-partisan forum for strategic thought leadership to advance government missions through the innovative application and management of information technology. The Institute is expected to undertake between three and five projects annually to address key issues with a high strategic impact on government and industry that affect multiple government business functions and/or organizations. The Institute also will focus on issues where government and industry collaboration can add value to the outcome.

The Institute is funded through contributions from private-sector companies that choose to become members of the Institute’s Innovator Circle and by not-for-profit organizations that support the activities of the Institute as Research Partners. The Innovator Circle will serve as an Advisory Board overseeing Institute activities. The Innovator Circle founding members are ICF International, Accenture and AOL Government. The MITRE Corporation has signed on as the Institute’s founding Research Partner. The Institute is part of ACT-IAC and will comply with all of ACT-IAC’s operating principles. These principles require that projects must be transparent and open and vendor and technology neutral. In addition, business development promotion and lobbying are prohibited, and no government funding will be accepted to support the Institute.

The Institute has announced its first project – a Quadrennial Government Technology Review (QGTR). Patterned upon the ACT-IAC 2008 Transition Study Group initiative, this project will analyze key issues affecting government and provide recommendations on how technology can improve the efficiency and effectiveness of government in a time of diminishing resources. The recommendations will be provided to the next administration’s leadership team and other senior government officials.

ACT-IAC solicited volunteers to serve upon the Steering Committee for the QGTR. From a pool of more than 30 well-qualified volunteers, the following individuals were selected: The co-chairs will be Anne Reed (Chairman, ASI Government) and Molly O’Neill (Vice President, CGI). Steering Committee members are Ramon Barquin (President, Barquin International); Mark Cohn (Chief Technology Officer, Unisys); Chris Chroniger (Chief Technology Officer, Acentia); Rahul Gupta (Principal (partner), PwC’s PRTM Management Consulting); Wendy Henry (President, i3Global Consulting); Steve Lynott (Executive VP, 1901 Group, LLC). In addition, Karen Evans (Partner, KE&T), Jim Williams (Senior VP, Daon) and Bob Woods (President, Topside Consulting Group) have been asked to serve as project advisors.

Once the issues have been selected, additional volunteers will be sought to participate on project teams. Former IAC Chair Sara DeCarlo has been retained as the ACT-IAC Director of the Institute for Innovation and will support the QGTR.

IAC Chair Jim Beaupre stated: “Over the past several years, ACT-IAC has been asked to provide recommendations on key issues such as health care (VistA) and the sustainability of federal financial management IT systems. ACT-IAC can provide a unique and valuable service as we can provide an industry-wide perspective, and, when asked, a community-wide perspective that includes both government and industry. The Institute provides a forum for undertaking and supporting similar projects in the future.”

ACT President Mary Davie noted: “The challenges facing government will affect all of us – government, industry and citizens. Today, more than ever, we need to work together toward a common vision of how government can effectively and efficiently serve our nation. We also need to be innovative and forward looking. The Institute for Innovation provides a forum for achieving these goals.”

For information on the Institute, include information on how to become a member of the Innovators Circle, contact: Sara DeCarlo, 703-362-0410 or sdecarlo@actgov.org.

About ACT-IAC – Advancing Government Through Collaboration, Education and Action

ACT-IAC is recognized as the premier government IT community’s public-private partnership and is an example of how government and industry work together. We are a non-profit educational organization created to advance government in serving the public through the effective application of IT resources. Our education, training, programming and collaboration opportunities enhance and advance the government IT profession. ACT-IAC’s objective, vendor and technology-neutral, and ethical forum allows government and industry to collaborate and improve government through technology.

Learn more about our organization and how to become a member at www.actgov.org or call 703-208-4800.