The Wake Innovation Team is part of a larger Strategy, Performance and Innovation team. The Innovation Team sits in the County Manager's Office to reinforce a countywide commitment to and investment in innovation and continuous improvement.

The Wake Innovates program was launched in July 2017 to spur new ways of thinking about government challenges with a focus on improving service and reducing cost. The program includes a team dedicated to researching and piloting disruptive technologies and innovative solutions, and innovation lab for experimentation and learning, and a dedicated funding stream for innovation initiatives.