The Office of Corporate Research, Technology, 

and Innovation Management leads the 

development and coordination of a national 

highway research program that closes critical 

knowledge gaps, identifies collaboration 

opportunities, and accelerates innovations 

and technology deployments. The office’s 

key responsibilities include providing 

strategic direction to the Federal Highway 

Administration (FHWA) on research, executing 

corporate research programs, coordinating 

FHWA research programs, ensuring research 

innovations move from the laboratory to 

implementation, and communicating research 

results.

STRATEGIC DIRECTION AND RESEARCH 

PLANNING

The office oversees and performs three core 

functions:

• Strategic planning: Collaborates with

the Office of the Secretary of the U.S.

Department of Transportation (USDOT)

and other operating administrations

to develop the USDOT RD&T Strategic

Plan.(1)

• Legislative and intergovernmental

action: Provides legislative analysis and

support for research and technology

(R&T).

• Budget preparation and execution: Leads

the coordination and development of

FHWA’s Annual Modal Research Plan,

spend plan, annual R&T budget request,

and annual R&T budget delivery plan.

RESEARCH COORDINATION

The office leverages a long history of strong 

partnerships and collaborations with State 

and Federal agencies to coordinate efforts and 

benefits that advance shared goals through the 

following:

• Liaisons and partnerships: Works with

FHWA division offices on R&T issues

related to the research portion of the

State Planning and Research program,

the Transportation Research Board, 

and the American Association of State 

Highway and Transportation Officials.

• International coordination: Takes

place through the Turner-Fairbank

Highway Research Center’s (TFHRC’s)

associate membership with the Forum

of European National Highway Research

Laboratories.

RESEARCH EXECUTION

The Office of Corporate Research, Technology, 

and Innovation Management implements 

a portion of the FHWA R&T portfolio and 

manages the following programs:

• Exploratory Advanced Research Program:

Matches opportunities from discoveries in

science and technology with the needs of

the highway transportation community,

focusing on longer-term, higher-risk

transformative research with high payoff

potential.

• National Research Council Research

Associateship Program: Provides

postdoctoral scientists and engineers the

opportunity to conduct research at FHWA

that addresses transportation challenges.

• Small Business Innovation Research

Program: Encourages domestic small

businesses to engage in research and

development addressing high-priority

research areas within USDOT. The

goal of the program is to develop and

commercialize products and services that

meet the needs of end users, including

State departments of transportation (DOTs),

local transportation agencies, and the

construction industry, while advancing

USDOT’s strategic goals.

• Transportation Pooled Fund Program:

Allows State DOTs and FHWA to create

synergy by leveraging resources, avoiding

duplication of effort, and collaborating on

planning and researching projects of mutual

interest.

OFFICE OF CORPORATE 

RESEARCH, TECHNOLOGY, AND 

INNOVATION MANAGEMENT

Turner-Fairbank Highway Research Center
 FHWA-HRT-20-025 

HRTM-20/11-20(500)E

Front Page Image Source: FHWA.

RESEARCH TRANSITION

The office leads the evaluation and assessment of 

FHWA research programs and projects and provides 

resources and expertise to appropriately transition 

technology from the laboratory to implementation. 

It also aims to accelerate the adoption of proven 

innovative practices and technologies as standard 

practice through the following:

• R&T Evaluation Program: Assesses project

performance, communicates the benefits of

R&T projects and programs to stakeholders, and

ensures that FHWA is expending public resources

efficiently and effectively.

• Technology Transfer Program: Provides support

services for moving research from the laboratory

to implementation and transfers market-ready

technology to the appropriate FHWA program

office, Federal agency, local or State government.

• Research services: Oversees the FHWA Research

Library, which conducts literature searches and

provides digital resources to FHWA employees.

MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS

Through its marketing, communications, and outreach 

initiatives, the office supports FHWA’s R&T program 

by ensuring the public and stakeholders are informed 

on current research through the following:

• Publishing, marketing, and communications:

Manages and disseminates all published

communications and information related to the

R&T program.

• Publications and exhibits: Produces

research-related publications, including

Public Roads and R&T Now, which highlight

research activities and best practices in highway

transportation construction and management.(2,3)

• Website management: Manages the content and

development of the TFHRC website in support of

all FHWA R&T programs.

REFERENCES

1. U.S. Department of Transportation. (2016).

Research, Development, and Technology Strategic

Plan U.S. Department of Transportation,

FY 2017–2021, U.S. Department of Transportation,

Washington, DC. Available online: https://www.

transportation.gov/administrations/assistantsecretary-research-and-technology/dot-five-yearrdt-strategic-plan, last accessed October 23, 2020.

2. Federal Highway Administration. (2020).

Public Roads. Federal Highway Administration,

Washington, DC. Available online: http://www.

fhwa.dot.gov/publications/publicroads, last

accessed October 23, 2020.

3. Federal Highway Administration. (2020).

R&T Now. Federal Highway Administration,

Washington, DC. Available online https://www.

fhwa.dot.gov/publications/rtnow, last accessed

October 23, 2020.