The County of San Mateo Innovation Program seeks to foster a thriving, resilient, and inclusive community by embracing creativity, collaboration, and continuous improvement. We strive for excellence in public service innovation, utilizing cutting-edge technologies, cross-sector partnerships, and diverse perspectives to tackle complex challenges and enhance residents' quality of life. By closely collaborating with dedicated county departments and employees, we aim to build a sustainable, equitable future and empower our workforce to excel in delivering exceptional public services.

2023 National Association of Counties Achievement Award Winner

 2023 Achievement Award Winner

The Homeless Outreach Request App was granted a 2023 Achievement Award by the National Association of Counties.

More information about the project can be found at https://www.smcgov.org/isd/homeless-outreach-request-app

 Innovation at County of San Mateo Homeless Outreach Dispatch DashboardHomeless Outreach Request App Rendering of the proposed Middlefield Road project.Middlefield Road Smart Corridor drone over a night skylineDrone Detection SMC Public WiFi logoSMC Public Wifi Tunitas Creek Beach - Photo by Rob CalaClimate Action Tool

About the Program

 Innovation Program Logo - lightbulb and lightning

The Innovation Program works with County departments and community partners to research, design, and prototype innovative solutions that align with the County's Shared Vision 2025 of a healthy, environmentally conscious, livable, collaborative, and prosperous community.

The Program overcomes barriers to innovation by sharing knowledge and ideas across departments and promoting a culture of innovation that embraces disruptive and incremental innovation in a workplace environment where every employee feels supported to introduce new ideas to improve efficiency and service delivery.

 Government Efficiency SymbolGovernment Efficiency Sustainability SymbolSustainability Health and Wellness iconHealth and Wellness Transportation IconTransportation Economic Development IconEconomic Development Public Safety IconPublic safety Quality of Life IconQuality of life Promoting a culture of InnovationPromoting a culture of Innovation Implementing User-Centric Innovative SolutionsImplementing User-Centric Innovative Solutions Scaling Up InnovationScaling Up Innovation Measure & ImproveMeasure & Improve Understand User Needs, Pain Points, and BehaviorsSharing knowledge and ideas across departments Use Human-Centered Design methodologies to ensure solutions are intuitive and easy-to-useCreating & sustaining a workplace environment that supports disruptive and incremental innovation Involve a collaborative approach between designer, developer, and end-userEngaging employees as idea generators, problem solvers, and empowered "Intrapreneurs" Barrier iconOvercoming barriers to Innovative Problem-Solving and Implementation of Innovative Solutions Understand User Needs, Pain Points, and BehaviorsUnderstand User Needs, Pain Points, and Behaviors Use Human-Centered Design methodologies to ensure solutions are intuitive and easy-to-useUse Human-Centered Design methodologies to ensure solutions are intuitive and easy-to-use Involve a collaborative approach between designer, developer, and end-userInvolve a collaborative approach between designer, developer, and end-user Meet or exceed accessibility, privacy, and security standards to be inclusive and safe.Meet or exceed accessibility, privacy, and security standards to be inclusive and safe.

Questions? Comments?

Please contact the Innovation Program Manager.