Use government data to build digital tools with, by, and for the people.
The Opportunity Project is a program of the Census Open Innovation Labs at the U.S. Census Bureau.
Use TOP at Your Agency to Solve the Nation's Toughest Challenges
The Opportunity Project (TOP) offers a framework for agencies to facilitate collaboration between technologists and community advocates in order to rapidly design digital solutions for the public good.
Explore how agencies have used TOP to address national challenges:
How Does TOP Work?
Government and/or community organizations lead sprints and identify pressing, public-facing issues.
Government agencies recruit technologists, community leaders, and data experts to participate in a 12-week sprint challenge.
Tech teams create products and tools based on community feedback. User research and exploration are important steps during this process. Tech teams include industry start-ups, technologists from outside the government, and university students.
Learn more about the TOP process.
How to Get Started
We can help your organization identify the next steps to facilitate a successful TOP sprint. If your agency is interested in using the TOP framework to address national challenges, please email us. A member of the TOP team will be in touch within one week.
Ready to get started?
Our Vision
We envision a future in which every federal agency uses the TOP model. We’re empowering you with the tools you need to lead open innovation.
Our Impact
40+ National Challenges
addressed, including ocean plastic pollution, COVID-19 economic recovery, disaster response, and more
135+ Public-Facing Digital Products
launched since 2016 through TOP’s 12-week technology development sprints
1300+ Alumni
participated in TOP sprints, including developers, designers, community leaders, data & policy experts, students, and government agencies