Note: Single-source report; awaiting corroboration.
The Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ), in collaboration with NASA’s Center of Excellence for Collaborative Innovation, has launched a Permitting Innovators Call for Solutions. This initiative invites technology companies, startups, researchers, and non-profits to help modernize federal environmental review and permitting processes for the 21st century. Submissions are open until June 2, 2026, at 6:00 p.m. ET.
CEQ Chair Katherine Scarlett stated that the program offers innovators a direct opportunity to improve how federal agencies manage environmental reviews and permitting, with goals of faster reviews and smarter systems to enhance government efficiency.
Federal permitting impacts critical infrastructure projects such as roads, bridges, energy facilities, data centers, and national security installations. The CEQ also referenced past actions to reform and expedite permitting by addressing delays affecting economic growth and security.
While agencies use some technology, many systems remain fragmented and manual. The call prioritizes innovations to modernize business processes, automate workflows, support digital-first documents, and increase timeline predictability.
A panel of experts will evaluate submissions and invite up to 50 top solutions to the Permitting Innovators Expo in July 2026 in Washington, D.C. There, innovators will present to federal leaders and explore partnerships.
Qualified solutions will also be included in the Permitting Innovators Solutions Catalog, a resource for agencies to review and consider vetted technologies aligned with the Permitting Technology Action Plan.