Information Technology and Innovation Foundation

ITIF is a non-partisan research and educational institute – a think tank – whose mission is to formulate and promote public policies to advance technological innovation and productivity internationally, in Washington, and in the states. Recognizing the vital role of technology in ensuring American prosperity, ITIF focuses on innovation, productivity, and digital economy issues.

Technological innovation, particularly in information technology, is at the heart of America’s growing economic prosperity. Crafting effective policies that boost innovation and encourage the widespread “digitization” of the economy is critical to ensuring robust economic growth and an improved standard of living. However, as in any new and changing situation, policymakers have varied awareness of what is needed and what will work. In some cases, legislators have responded to new and complex technology policy issues with solutions more suited for the old economy. And as the innovation economy has become increasingly important, opposition to it from special interests has grown. Finally, the excitement that the press, pundits and decision makers showed toward the information technology (IT) revolution in the 1990s has all too often been replaced with an attitude of “IT doesn’t matter.” It’s time to set the record straight that IT is still the key driver of productivity and innovation.

As a result, the mission of the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation (ITIF) is to help policy makers at the federal and state levels to better understand the nature of the new innovation economy and the types of public policies needed to drive innovation, productivity and broad-based prosperity for all Americans.

ITIF publishes policy reports, holds forums and policy debates, advises elected officials and their staff, and is an active resource for the media. It develops new and creative policy proposals to advance innovation, analyzes existing policy issues through the lens of advancing innovation and productivity, and opposes policies that hinder digital transformation and innovation.