U.S. Commerce department boosts research and development at Oklahoma State University

Tuesday, August 16, 2011

U.S. Economic Development Administration release --

WASHINGTON, D.C.  – Acting U.S. Commerce Secretary Dr. Rebecca Blank and U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe today announced a $1 million Economic Development Administration (EDA) grant to the Oklahoma State University Multispectral Laboratories (UML) in Ponca City, Okla., to modernize the university’s research and training facilities.  The labs are working to enhance technology transfer and commercialization rates by streamlining the innovation to deployment cycle and provide researchers with greater access to a unique network of equipment and outdoor testing and training space at a lower cost. The project is expected to create 15 jobs and generate $725,000 in private investment, according to grantee estimates.

“Encouraging innovation and bringing new technologies to the marketplace are critical to creating jobs and improving our nation’s economic competitiveness,” Blank said.  “Investments in commercialization efforts like this one at Oklahoma State University support the President's vision for out-innovating the rest of the world by moving great ideas from the lab to the marketplace to spur the development of 21st century jobs and industries.”  

“Congratulations to OSU-UML on receiving this competitive grant,” said Inhofe.  “The work they are doing is helping make our nation more secure.  Their training of our national security forces in counter-terrorism, and their training of our nation’s first responders in disaster preparedness and response is extremely important.  They are also doing critical work in chemical and biological warfare, and their Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) development and training is playing a vital role around the world.  This grant is key in helping UML continue to move forward and more rapidly transition their work to the production phase.”

UML specializes in technical innovations and scientific solutions that address security needs by mixing science and operational experience. This EDA investment will enable the laboratories to expand infrastructure components necessary to support large, multi-faceted campaigns that respond to broad spectrum emerging threats. Funding will also be used to establish a Center for Observation and Measurement of Emerging Threats at the university, which would enable research to detect, mitigate and defeat global security threats.  

About the U.S. Economic Development Administration (www.eda.gov):  
This year, the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) marks 45 years of public service, with a mission of leading the federal economic development agenda by promoting competitiveness and preparing American regions for growth and success in the worldwide economy. EDA is an agency within the U.S. Department of Commerce that partners with distressed communities throughout the United States to foster job creation, collaboration and innovation.