Economic Development Projects

**  Archived Project  **
(This initiative is no longer active in our portfolio.)

Oklahoma NSF EPSCoR funding sponsors innovative research projects designed to strengthen Oklahoma.  Click here to access a video that highlights EPSCoR research projects that have spawned economic and social benefits for the state.

The OK EPSCoR program, in partnership with the Oklahoma Center for the Advancement of Science and Technology (OCAST) and i2E, Inc., also supports economic development in Oklahoma by providing programs that encourage an entrepreneurial spirit among researchers and students and an awareness of opportunities in state R&D facilities.  Initiatives are designed to support the commercialization of ideas, innovations and products born out of faculty members’ and students’ research and knowledge. 

EPSCoR, OCAST, and i2E are currently teaming up to provide support to scientists and inventors who are researching, developing, and ultimately commercializing technologies that are aligned with EPSCoR’s mission of furthering research related to ‘Adapting Socio-ecological Systems to Increased Climate Variability’.  

Using the Oklahoma SBIR Collaborative Resources (OSCR) program, the interested researcher will have access to many resources to successfully compete for SBIR/STTR funding. The OSCR program guides the researcher from the beginning of SBIR Phase I preparation all the way to commercialization.

As a participant in the OSCR program, one may be eligible to receive:

• Phase 0 funding
• Identification of SBIR/STTR opportunities
• Expert guidance in proposal strategy
• Proposal preparation assistance
• Post-submission and pre-award support
• $25K matching funds for Phase II proposals
• Assistance with identifying strategic partners and building collaborations

In addition, researchers/inventors may have an opportunity to engage in a commercialization development process that will provide entrepreneurial mentorship, business model development, and prototype development, among many other provisions. 

If you are interested in this current opportunity, please contact Chad Mullen at [email protected] or at 405-319-8416 to discuss further.