Cities including Austin, Texas; Detroit, and San Jose, California, are among the first members of new program that recruits research universities to solve community challenges.

Tech startups partnered with 22 local governments to create new digital tools, revamp frail processes and unite stakeholders.

The companies will pair with 22 local governments to develop innovative government solutions over the next 16 weeks.

The projects will address transit, housing, public safety and other issues for 28 participating governments.

The North Carolina city's Innovate Durham program, modeled after San Francisco's Startup in Residence, is bringing seven local startup firms into city hall for 12 weeks.

The nonprofit says it's on track to hit 100 communities within the next five years.

After a small-scale national pilot, the program that pairs startups with local governments is now opening its doors to a wider pool of civic challenges.

The chief innovation officer was formative in building keystone civic technology programs like Startup in Residence.

Advanced new virtual assistants like this one are bottling and distributing government's hidden institutional knowledge.

Organizers are now setting their sights on economies of scale as the program grows.