The president-elect's transition advisers include several current and former state and local IT officials, like former Santa Clara County, Calif., CIO Ann Dunkin.

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.

A new program launched by the civic tech company CityInnovate, called STIR Labs, seeks to match state and local government agencies with nearby universities that can help solve upcoming challenges, such as economic recovery.