IT Hub Creates a Front Door for Tech in San Jose

San Jose is opening a new channel for technology ideas to flow directly into City Hall.

This week, the city’s Information Technology Department launched the IT Innovation Hub, an online portal where tech companies can pitch ideas aimed at enhancing government services. Instead of the traditional cycle of periodic requests for information, the portal allows entrepreneurs to submit proposals at any time, with staff reviewing them monthly.

The IT Innovation Hub will build on ongoing pilots — from bus route optimization to citywide object detection systems — creating a clear path for even newer technologies to make their way into everyday city operations.

San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan said the approach is about rethinking how local government engages with the region’s tech community, in a recent news release.

“San Jose is using technology to make government work better,” Mahan said in a statement. “The IT Innovation Hub will accelerate this work by turning the RFI process on its head — instead of the city soliciting ideas infrequently and narrowly, we will be allowing our greatest minds to propose solutions year-round.”

Companies whose submissions align with the city’s 2023–2026 IT plan and operational priorities may be invited to an IT Vendor Day, where they can present their ideas in person. From there, the proposals could transition into pilot projects, requests for information or proposals, or even be built into future budget planning.

City Manager Jennifer Maguire said the structure is designed to keep the process fair and focused on community impact.

“Our IT Innovation Hub opens the door for technology companies to directly engage with the city in a fair, transparent, and structured way,” she said in a statement. “We are looking for solutions that innovate our operations and provide measurable benefits to the community we serve.”

Officials are open to a broad range of ideas, from cloud and hybrid services to AI and cybersecurity tools — as long as they comply with San Jose’s policies on AI, data governance and cybersecurity.

Good ideas can emerge from any corner of the community, San Jose Chief Information Officer Khaled Tawfik said in the release, and the new portal is designed to let them rise to the surface. The new hub, he said in a statement, is “about sharing, listening, learning and leading together.”

Editor's note: This article originally appeared in Government Technology, a sister publication to Industry Insider — California.