Innovation is not just an abstract concept. Many agencies have started innovation-based programs to encourage fresh thinking and foster creative problem solving in the U.S. government.

Air Force Research Laboratory and the Wright Brothers Institute Innovation Case Studies Exit

Challenge.gov -- platform for prize competitions in federal agencies Exit

CitizenScience.gov -- A resource designed to accelerate the use of crowdsourcing and citizen science across the U.S. goverment. Exit

Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency Innovation Work Exit

Department of Energy Science and Innovation Work Exit

Department of Health and Human Services - HHS Idea Lab Exit

Department of Transportation Office of Innovative Program Delivery Exit

Exposure Science in the 21st Century Federal Working Group

Federal Community of Practice for Crowdsourcing and Citizen Science Exit

Federal Crowdsourcing and Citizen Science Toolkit Exit

Federal Labs Consortium for Technology Transfer Exit

General Services Administration 18F -- digital services Exit

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Solve -- prize competitions and crowdsourcing Exit

NASA Center of Excellence for Collaborative Innovation Exit

National Institutes of Health High-Risk, High-Reward Research Program Exit

Office of Personnel Management Innovation Lab Exit

Small Business Innovation Research Exit

United States Geological Survey -- citizen science projects Exit

White House Office of Science and Technology Policy Exit