FOSTERING INNOVATION IN THE STRATEGIC HIGHWAY RESEARCH PROGRAM.

The theme of the Strategic Highway Research Program (SHRP) is innovation and SHRP's Final Research Plans provide a thoughtful guide to the development of new highway technology, materials, and processes. Some background material developed to create a climate conducive to the serious consideration of creative ideas and unsolicited proposals, the support of innovation, and the extensive involvement of private industry in SHRP and public-sector highway research is presented. In particular SHRP should encourage the development of widely accepted performance tests and specifications so that there is a foundation for awarding highway product procurement and construction contracts on the basis of long-term performance and life-cycle costs.