Overview of Open Innovation Strategy

USGS has a long history of projects that engage the public to enhance science, a method often referred to as “citizen science.” There is a broad spectrum of public engagement and community-based research (e.g., citizen science, crowdsourcing, and prize competitions). “Open Innovation” (OI) has recently become an umbrella term to reference these participatory methods. Such methods are ways to meaningfully engage communities at risk and transform users of risk products into vital contributors. However, the lack of bureau-wide guidance, resources, and policy on OI has led to ad hoc efforts giving rise to concerns and misconceptions about data quality and validity that need to be addressed and dispelled. A comprehensive strategy is needed to provide practical and consistent guidance to direct USGS scientists, managers, and leadership on how to use and evaluate OI methods effectively while meeting USGS science needs. A USGS Open Innovation Strategy is currently being developed that will result in USGS-specific Guidance and Policy as well as a Toolkit and Catalog of USGS OI activities.

If you are interested in providing feedback on this Open Innovation Strategy and participate in a virtual workshop to inform the design of the playbook, please Provide a Comment Below (sign in with AD username/password) or Send an Email with subject line "Open Innovation Strategy" to: SophiaLiu@usgs.gov and OpenInnovation@usgs.gov