WASHINGTON, Aug. 17 (UPI) — The Presidential Innovation Fellows program was made permanent by executive order, President Barack Obama announced Monday.
The program, initiated by the White House in 2012 brings technology experts into government as “embedded entrepreneurs-in-residence,” with more transparency and innovation as the goal.
Underwritten by the White House and administered as a partnership between the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, the White House Office of Management and Budget and the General Services Administration, 96 fellows with successful backgrounds in technology are dispersed through government agencies for 12-month terms.
“What began as an experiment is becoming a success,” Obama said in announcing the order. “That’s why I’m making it permanent. From now on, presidential innovation fellows will be an integral part of our government.”
The order was announced on the day six additional fellows joined the program.