‘Igniting Innovation’ Puts Public Sector Projects in ‘Shark Tank’-like Contest
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Connecting state and local government leaders
Utah hunting licensing app entry one of a handful of state and local finalists competing in D.C.
If you walk through the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center in Washington, D.C., on Thursday, you may feel like you’ve stumbled upon a grown-up version of a high school science fair meeting the popular television show, “Shark Tank.”
At least that’s how Andy Robinson, chairman of the ACT-IAC Institute for Innovation Advisory Board, describes his organization’s second annual “Igniting Innovation” awards showcase.
“There are a lot of awards contests in town,” Robinson said during a recent phone interview. “Most of them tend to be black tie, with hours of speakers. I don’t mind getting dressed up but sitting in that attire for hours listening to speakers is just not appealing. So, we wanted something more participatory.”
The showcase features 30 finalists with a broad range of innovative IT solutions aimed to improve government efficiency and citizen services. Last year’s showcase was a surprising hit with both government leaders and the general public. More than 700 people showed up to check out the science fair styled exhibits, where they were able to mingle with tech innovators from around the country.
“We were frankly blown away by the response and the attendees,” Robinson said. “It was the most widely attended event in IAC history.”
The finalists primarily hail from the federal sector but Robinson said there is a big push to encourage participation at the state and local level as well.
For example, three of the finalists include entries from Colorado, Utah and New York City. They’ll be up against other finalists from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Department of Homeland Security, and the U.S. Army, among other big federal entries.
The entry from Utah Interactive and Utah.gov seeks to create a mobile approach to wildlife gaming licensing in the state. It allows sportsmen to renew licenses and carry digital versions of their hunting permits. It also connects users directly to state wildlife officials to report cases of poaching or other incidents.
Other finalists include an app designed to improve the daily lives of individuals suffering from traumatic brain injuries and a new approach to using voice password authentication for secure networks.
As Robinson said, the showcase aims to feature ideas like this one that not only embrace new technology but also use it in a way to make government services more accessible, streamlined and cost efficient.
“We get some outstanding out-of-the-box thinking coming from the states,” Robinson said. “I would like to see us get a few more contestants from the states. We’re trying to break down the walls further.”
Robinson says a major focus in that regard is focusing on the culture of innovation in government. Along with more traditional approaches to educating government leaders and agency employees, he wants to engage and inspire people using more creative formats like this week’s showcase.
“We’d really like to see innovation embraced at the most senior levels of government,” he said. “And I mean from the White House all the way down. If so, the citizen can get a lot more bang for their buck if they establish a culture of innovation.”
Throughout the day, the 30 finalists will showcase their respective entries. Then, voting will be turned over participants on social media who will narrow the field down to eight finalists. Those eight finalists will then appear before Robinson and a team of other judges who will provide feedback and suggestions in a model similar to the reality show “Shark Week,” before a winner is selected by attendees.
“It’s great for the government decision makers who attend,” Robinson said. “They can literally walk around looking for solutions. It also keeps people up to speed on what’s happening in the world of technology.”
Looking at the field of entries, Robinson says he sees some trends in terms of innovation focused on healthcare, analytics and using social media to connect people with government services.
However, he and other judges aren’t just looking for a cool, new piece of tech.
“The winning entry is not just going to be some great technology,” he said. “It’s going to be someone who has taken the tech and then changed the process to deliver something better, faster and cheaper. That’s what really excited the judges.”