Research, Technology, and Education Partnerships Overview

The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) works to ensure that its research, technology, and education programs are coordinated with other transportation research and that partnership opportunities are fully explored. FHWA works with the Office of the Secretary of Transportation and the other U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) modal administrations to share research results of common interest and to ensure that there is no unnecessary duplication of effort. FHWA is also closely coordinates with Intelligent Transportation Systems Research and the University Transportation Centers Programs.

FHWA works with State Departments of Transportation (DOTs) to administer the research portion of the Federal-aid State Planning and Research (SP&R) program. In addition to providing stewardship and oversight of SP&R, FHWA works with State DOTs on the National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP), which is a State-driven program to address issues integral to State DOTs. FHWA also administers the Transportation Pooled Fund (TPF) Program to encourage States to partner with each other and with FHWA to conduct research of common interest.

FHWA also seeks partnerships outside of State and Federal transportation entities. Through the Exploratory Advanced Research program, non-traditional partnerships are established to see what research in other fields can be of potential benefit to highway transportation. FHWA also seeks partnerships with international entities to share USDOT research findings with others and to learn from research and practices conducted abroad.

FHWA also provides research topics and evaluates submitted proposals for funding under the Small Business Innovation Research Program, a research and development program mandated by the U.S. Congress in 1982 and reauthorized in 2012 with the purpose of developing technological innovations using the high level of expertise in the small business community throughout the United States. The goals of the program are to stimulate technological innovation, meet the Federal Government's needs for research and development by providing opportunities to small businesses, increase private sector commercialization of innovations derived from Federal research and development, and provide opportunities for minority and disadvantaged participation in technological innovation.