Technology and Innovation

Innovation occurs when ideas are put to use in a manner that improves the way something works – whether that’s a service, process, or product. The Office of Technology and Innovation (OTI) was established within the Office of the Associate Director for Science (OADS) to foster innovative science and support the transition of results into practice by the most effective means.

The Office of Technology and Innovation (OTI)

• Fosters, and develops innovative science, technologies, processes, and policies that support CDC’s ability to protect and promote the health of Americans and people around the world
• Provides leadership, coordination, and support for technology transfer and innovation in CDC science
• Supports scientific outreach, training, and collaboration in research and development (R&D) activities that advance CDC’s mission and engage other agencies, global partners, academia, innovators, and consumers

There are several functional areas of OTI:

• The Technology Transfer Office (TTO) supports and facilitates technology development and transfer activities. For CDC, technology transfer is the process by which the agency’s scientific knowledge and inventions developed under federal R&D funding are transferred to other organization(s) for further development and public health benefit. TTO staff work closely with partners such as the National Institutes of Health (NIH), CDC investigators, and outside collaborators to facilitate commercialization efforts for advancing public health.
• The Innovation Lab (I-Lab) promotes and facilitates solutions and innovative approaches to advance public health across the agency. Key I-Lab programs and activities include CDC’s Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program, CDC’s Innovation Fund (iFund), Ideation Catalyst (iCatalyst) training, citizen science, challenges, contests, and more. The I-Lab supports innovation and entrepreneurship among staff and works to cultivate creativity within the CDC community.

Contact us at (404) 639-1330 or OTI@cdc.gov.