Matt Hourihan
Director, R&D Budget and Policy Program
American Association for the Advancement of Science
Hourihan is the director of the R&D Budget and Policy Program for the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), where he is a regular source of information and analyses on past, present, and future science budgets for policymakers and the science community. He has served in this position since 2011.
Prior to joining AAAS, he served as a clean energy policy analyst at the Information Technology & Innovation Foundation (ITIF). While at ITIF, he tracked federal energy R&D investments and innovation activities, and authored several white papers and policy briefs exploring the role of innovation in solving the nation's energy and climate challenges. He also regularly coordinated Congressional briefings, conferences, and events bringing together leading experts in government, industry, and academia. Previously, he served as Jan Schori Fellow at the Business Council for Sustainable Energy, a coalition of energy firms and utilities working to engage policymakers for market-based solutions to sustainable energy development and climate change.
As a student, he interned with the AAAS Center for Science, Technology and Congress, now the Office of Government Relations. He earned a masters degree in public policy with a focus on science and technology policy at George Mason University, and a B.A. in journalism from Ithaca College. He has also served as a cause communications professional and journalist in a variety of roles.
Recent Publications
DOD Steps Up Innovation in Installation Energy, Recognizes Limits in Biofuels
A brief update on energy innovation activities within the Department of Defense.
To Deploy or Not to Deploy?
Rather than debating clean energy innovation versus deployment, we should be finding ways that deployment can serve innovation.
Taking on the Three Deficits
America actually faces three deficits—the budget deficit, the trade deficit, and the investment deficit—that, if left unchecked, could total over $41 trillion in the next 10 years.
Thomas Friedman’s Quasi-Market Fundamentalism
Thomas Friedman’s ongoing love of carbon prices leaves him with an innovation blind spot.
Energy Innovation: If You Don’t Occasionally Fail, You’re Doing It Wrong
The bankruptcy of solar firm Solyndra offers an important lesson about failure in innovation.
Look Beyond the U.S. Market
ITIF argues for trade-focused policies to boost domestic competitiveness in the clean economy.
National Journal Experts Blog: Look Beyond the U.S. Market
A key economic challenge is to make sure that we aren’t just swapping green jobs for fossil energy jobs, and are actually achieving net job growth.
Australia’s New Energy Regime
A look at Australia’s new climate change package, which includes a carbon price and clear investment in innovation.
Drilling Revenues: A Funding Stream for Energy Innovation?
In a time of austerity, drilling revenues could offer a supplementary source of clean energy innovation.
Innovation for Control: Smart Technology to Empower Energy Producers and Users
Congress should pass the e-KNOW Act and take other steps to enable ICT-based innovation in energy.
Lemons to Lemonade: Funding Clean Energy Innovation with Offshore Drilling Revenues
Policymakers should increase the royalty rate on offshore drilling to produce a steady, dedicated stream for clean energy innovation.
A Model for Innovation: ARPA-E Merits Full Funding
The Advanced Research Project Agency-Energy (ARPA-E) is driving energy innovation and laying the groundwork for new industries. It deserves better from Congress than steep budget cuts.
Recent Events and Presentations
Mission Innovation One Year After Paris: The Present and Future of Federal Clean Energy RD&D
With the next meeting of the parties to the climate change agreement set to begin in Morocco on November 7, join ITIF to discuss what the United States has been doing to keep this promise and what may be on the horizon for federal clean energy research, development, and demonstration (RD&D) in the next four years.
Energy Innovation 2011
At Energy Innovation 2011, leading energy policy thinkers will address core issues and counter misguided but widely held beliefs about the clean energy innovation.
Operation Energy Innovation: A Stronger, Smarter Fighting Force
Members of Congress, senior leaders from the Department of Defense and leading thinkers in the private and NGO sectors discuss energy innovation at DOD.
