In 1965, Clark Abt brought together a group of scientists, engineers, and educators in a small office above a machine shop in Cambridge, Massachusetts. He created a new kind of company—using interdisciplinary social science research to solve social, economic, and technological problems.

Abt Associates focused on transferring defense-related technology and systems to civilian application, such as the nation’s War on Poverty. These early efforts contributed to the development of the field of public policy research and established our reputation and capabilities.

In the 1970s, we built on our expertise, especially in housing, education, substance abuse, and health. Our studies contributed to the establishment of Section 8 housing, Head Start, and many other programs still operating. We developed and managed the National Day Care Study, the most frequently cited piece of daycare research for almost 2 decades.

In the 1980s, we became truly global with the Agriculture Policy Analysis Project, the first of many for the U.S. Agency for International Development.

In the 1990s, we expanded to countries in Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union, strengthening health systems and becoming known for our leadership in health financing. In the U.S., our research contributed to the Food Stamp program, immunization coverage, and other programs.

By the 2000s, employees worked in offices in the U.S. and nearly 40 other countries. Growing every year, we are now ranked as a Top 20 global research company.

Over the past 46 years, Abt Associates has grown far beyond that small Cambridge office, but Clark Abt’s founding principles remain constant.