Challenges and Opportunities for Innovation in the Public Works ...

A national catalyst must not be a bureaucracy, but must rely on existing systems to the greatest
extent possible. It must also be emphasized that a national catalyst should focus on empowering others,
and not assume a directive posture.
A national catalyst should assume a leadership role through the following activities and
responsibilities.
Facilitate partnering - act as a "matchmaker" with Federal, academia, industry, and other reievant
entities.
Be an honest broker for infrastructure-related action; be instrumental in identifying needs and
priorities, broker opportunities and actions, and assign leadership roles.
Lead by example in validating and demonstrating technologies through Federal agencies. Facilitate
"learning-by-doing" by Federal agencies. Disseminate both successful and unsuccessful experiences.
Facilitate technology transfer by disseminating information and establishing training requirements
and services. Identify resource allocation, planning, and action strategies.
Diversify resources in the Federal Government's technology transfer processes and activities.
Expand the Army Corps of Engineers' Construction Productivity Advancement Research (CPAR)
program to other Federal agencies. Expand the Government's partnering and customer niches to
others who are not currently involved in technology transfer. New partnering approaches may
include industry and regulatory participation, as well as other forms of academic participation.
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