Information Technology and Innovation Foundation
Encyclopedia
The Information Technology and Innovation Foundation (ITIF) is a U.S. non-profit public policy think tank
based out of Washington, D.C. The organization focuses on public policies that spur technology innovation
. Robert D. Atkinson
is the President of ITIF.
and Democrat Calvin Dooley as co-chairs. Its stated mission is to promote new ways of thinking about technology-driven productivity
, competitiveness
and globalization
. In 2008, Inc. Magazine
referred to the organization as "scrupulously nonpartisan." In 2009, Ars Technica
wrote that ITIF is "one of the leading, and most prolific, tech policy think tanks."
Nancy Johnson and Vic Fazio, two former Members of Congress, co-chair the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation. Senator Orrin Hatch
, Senator Mark Warner
, Representative Ron Kind
and Representative Darrell Issa
currently serve as honorary co-chairs of ITIF.
Chairman Julius Genachowski
and Chief Technology Officer Aneesh Chopra
. ITIF also published the report Digital Prosperity, which linked technology to productivity, although Dean of Wisconsin School of Business
Michael Knetter
warned of potential biases given ITIF’s supporters in the technology industry.
as "[b]ig IT vendors ... establishing their own think tank." The Information Technology Industry Council
(ITI), a trade association whose members include many of the largest IT companies, was described as the principal backer of ITIF at the time of its foundation. In reference to funding provided by ITI, Ars Technica said in 2009 that an ITIF report which recommended that stimulus money be spent on IT "should ... be expected to contain a healthy dose of self-interest, but that won't necessarily mean that its conclusions are wrong." In 2007, ITIF’s research was supported by technology companies such as IBM
, Cisco
and eBay
, labor unions such as the Communications Workers of America
, as well as foundation grants
.
Think tank
A think tank is an organization that conducts research and engages in advocacy in areas such as social policy, political strategy, economics, military, and technology issues. Most think tanks are non-profit organizations, which some countries such as the United States and Canada provide with tax...
based out of Washington, D.C. The organization focuses on public policies that spur technology innovation
Innovation
Innovation is the creation of better or more effective products, processes, technologies, or ideas that are accepted by markets, governments, and society...
. Robert D. Atkinson
Robert D. Atkinson
Robert D. Atkinson is the President of the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation.-References:...
is the President of ITIF.
History
ITIF was established as an independent organization in 2006 with former House members Republican Jennifer DunnJennifer Dunn
Jennifer Blackburn Dunn was a prominent Republican member of the United States House of Representatives 1993–2005, representing .-Early life:...
and Democrat Calvin Dooley as co-chairs. Its stated mission is to promote new ways of thinking about technology-driven productivity
Productivity
Productivity is a measure of the efficiency of production. Productivity is a ratio of what is produced to what is required to produce it. Usually this ratio is in the form of an average, expressing the total output divided by the total input...
, competitiveness
Competitiveness
Competitiveness is a comparative concept of the ability and performance of a firm, sub-sector or country to sell and supply goods and/or services in a given market...
and globalization
Globalization
Globalization refers to the increasingly global relationships of culture, people and economic activity. Most often, it refers to economics: the global distribution of the production of goods and services, through reduction of barriers to international trade such as tariffs, export fees, and import...
. In 2008, Inc. Magazine
Inc. (magazine)
Inc. magazine, founded in 1979 and based in New York City, is a monthly publication focused on growing companies. The magazine publishes an annual list of the 500 fastest-growing private companies in the U.S., the "Inc...
referred to the organization as "scrupulously nonpartisan." In 2009, Ars Technica
Ars Technica
Ars Technica is a technology news and information website created by Ken Fisher and Jon Stokes in 1998. It publishes news, reviews and guides on issues such as computer hardware and software, science, technology policy, and video games. Ars Technica is known for its features, long articles that go...
wrote that ITIF is "one of the leading, and most prolific, tech policy think tanks."
Nancy Johnson and Vic Fazio, two former Members of Congress, co-chair the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation. Senator Orrin Hatch
Orrin Hatch
Orrin Grant Hatch is the senior United States Senator for Utah and is a member of the Republican Party. Hatch served as the chairman or ranking member of the Senate Judiciary Committee from 1993 to 2005...
, Senator Mark Warner
Mark Warner
Mark Robert Warner is an American politician and businessman, currently serving in the United States Senate as the junior senator from the Commonwealth of Virginia. He is a member of the Democratic Party. Warner was the 69th governor of Virginia from 2002 to 2006 and is the honorary chairman of...
, Representative Ron Kind
Ron Kind
Ronald James "Ron" Kind is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 1997. He is a member of the Democratic Party. His district is located in the western portion of the state and is anchored by La Crosse and Eau Claire and Platteville....
and Representative Darrell Issa
Darrell Issa
Darrell Edward Issa is the U.S. Representative for , and previously the 48th, serving since 2001. He is a member of the Republican Party. He was formerly a CEO of Directed Electronics, the Vista, California-based manufacturer of automobile security and convenience products...
currently serve as honorary co-chairs of ITIF.
Publications
ITIF publishes the State New Economy Index, which measures how much U.S. states’ economies are driven by knowledge and innovation. They published The Atlantic Century, which ranks countries on their competitiveness and innovative capacity and has been cited by U.S. government officials such as Federal Communications CommissionFederal Communications Commission
The Federal Communications Commission is an independent agency of the United States government, created, Congressional statute , and with the majority of its commissioners appointed by the current President. The FCC works towards six goals in the areas of broadband, competition, the spectrum, the...
Chairman Julius Genachowski
Julius Genachowski
Julius Genachowski is an American lawyer and businessman. He became Federal Communications Commission Chairman on June 29, 2009.-Education:Genachowski grew up in Great Neck, New York. He attended yeshiva and studied in Israel...
and Chief Technology Officer Aneesh Chopra
Aneesh Chopra
Aneesh Paul Chopra is the first Federal Chief Technology Officer of the United States .Chopra previously served as Virginia’s fourth Secretary of Technology. Prior to his government service, Chopra was Managing Director for the Advisory Board Company, a health care think tank for hospitals and...
. ITIF also published the report Digital Prosperity, which linked technology to productivity, although Dean of Wisconsin School of Business
Wisconsin School of Business
The Wisconsin School of Business is the business school of University of Wisconsin–Madison, located in Grainger Hall. Founded in 1900, it has more than 35,000 alumni. The undergraduate program prepares students for business careers, while its Master of Business Administration program is based on...
Michael Knetter
Michael Knetter
Michael Knetter is a past dean of the Wisconsin School of Business. Effective October 16, 2010, Knetter is the new president and chief executive officer of the University of Wisconsin Foundation - the official fundraising arm of the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He was educated at the...
warned of potential biases given ITIF’s supporters in the technology industry.
Funding and support
ITIF's founding in 2006 was described by InformationWeekInformationWeek
InformationWeek is a weekly print magazine, an online site with corresponding face-to-face and virtual events, and research. It is headquartered in San Francisco, California and was first published in 1979 by CMP Media, later called CMP Technology. On February 29, 2008, CMP Technology was...
as "[b]ig IT vendors ... establishing their own think tank." The Information Technology Industry Council
Information Technology Industry Council
The Information Technology Industry Council is a Washington D.C. based trade association that represents companies from the information and communications technology industry. As an advocacy organization, ITI works to influence policy issues aimed at encouraging innovation and promoting global...
(ITI), a trade association whose members include many of the largest IT companies, was described as the principal backer of ITIF at the time of its foundation. In reference to funding provided by ITI, Ars Technica said in 2009 that an ITIF report which recommended that stimulus money be spent on IT "should ... be expected to contain a healthy dose of self-interest, but that won't necessarily mean that its conclusions are wrong." In 2007, ITIF’s research was supported by technology companies such as IBM
IBM
International Business Machines Corporation or IBM is an American multinational technology and consulting corporation headquartered in Armonk, New York, United States. IBM manufactures and sells computer hardware and software, and it offers infrastructure, hosting and consulting services in areas...
, Cisco
Cisco
Cisco may refer to:Companies:*Cisco Systems, a computer networking company* Certis CISCO, corporatised entity of the former Commercial and Industrial Security Corporation in Singapore...
and eBay
EBay
eBay Inc. is an American internet consumer-to-consumer corporation that manages eBay.com, an online auction and shopping website in which people and businesses buy and sell a broad variety of goods and services worldwide...
, labor unions such as the Communications Workers of America
Communications Workers of America
Communications Workers of America is the largest communications and media labor union in the United States representing about 550,000 members in both the private and public sectors. The union has 27 locals in Canada via CWA-SCA Canada representing about 8,000 members...
, as well as foundation grants
Grant (money)
Grants are funds disbursed by one party , often a Government Department, Corporation, Foundation or Trust, to a recipient, often a nonprofit entity, educational institution, business or an individual. In order to receive a grant, some form of "Grant Writing" often referred to as either a proposal...
.