OSU collaboration with state manufacturers results in revenue growth, national honor

Friday, December 7, 2007

(OKLAHOMA CITY, Ok. -- Dec. 7, 2007) -- An Oklahoma State University Center for Innovation and Economic Development program that in its first year helped Oklahoma manufacturers secure approximately $20 million in new revenues has been honored by the University Economic Development Association.

OSU CIED was presented the 2007 Award of Excellence for business assistance programs during the association’s annual summit in Portland, Ore. The national Awards of Excellence recognize university-sponsored programs for outcomes, innovation, cost-effectiveness, return on investment and ease of replication, among other criteria.

The association honored OSU CIED’s program, “Oklahoma Production Integration Network,” that assists military customers who need hard-to-procure parts for planes and other vehicles. With its network of more than 250 Oklahoma manufacturers, OPIN matches the military’s requirements with the right companies to make the parts better, cheaper and faster than ever before.

Driven by the motto, “When no one else can make it, Oklahoma can!” the network helps identify new business opportunities for Oklahoma companies, with 2007 revenues for new business estimated to be about $20 million, up from $13 million in 2006.

“We are proud of the OPIN team’s accomplishments,” said Joseph Alexander, OSU CIED president. “OPIN is innovative and successful on many levels, and UEDA’s national award is one more example of OSU’s leadership in economic development for Oklahoma.”

During the UEDA summit, Glenn Freedman, OSU CIED vice president for research and programs, described the OPIN program to university representatives from throughout the nation. His presentation explained its outgrowth and business model transition from the federally funded Aging Systems Sustainment and Enabling Technologies program.

“Finding qualified Oklahoma manufacturers who can produce problem parts for aging weapons systems is a service OSU had been providing the military since initiating the ASSET program in 1994,” Freedman said.
 

“CIED’s role in economic development includes assisting new company startups,” Freedman said “OPIN, which was formally established at the beginning of 2007, is an example of an enterprise established as a part of a grant from the federal government that has become a free-standing enterprise, thanks to the hard work of a number of people and the support of the Department of Defense.”

The UEDA Award of Excellence for business assistance is OSU’s second. In 2005, OSU’s New Product Development Center received the association’s Award of Excellence for technology commercialization for work with Muskogee heavy equipment manufacturer Klutts Equipment Inc. on the prototype development of a new machine for railroad maintenance.
The University Economic Development Association is a national professional organization representing universities engaged in economic development programs and community development activities. For more information about the association, visit www.universityeda.org.

OSU CIED serves OSU’s commitment to economic development through sharing university “know-how” (research), building entrepreneurial strengths (instruction) and participating in regional strategic alliances (outreach) that create jobs and wealth for the citizens of Oklahoma.