Research and development (R&D) is the lifeblood of innovation. Each year in Oklahoma, hundreds of millions of dollars of federal and state funds are committed to R&D in science and technology. A significant amount of that R&D will have an impact on the aerospace industry.
Universities and Government Agencies
All of Oklahoma's major institutions of higher education receive federal R&D money through grants by federal agencies to faculty, graduate students, and research centers. Schools receiving such grants include the University of Oklahoma, Oklahoma State University and the University of Tulsa. Among the institutions in Oklahoma conducting groundbreaking research are:
- National Severe Storms Laboratory in Norman (a unit of the Department of Commerce's National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration), which conducts research on all aspects of severe whether, helping to provide better forecasts and warnings of dangerous weather events.
- The Civil Aeromedical Institute (a unit of the Department of Transportation's Federal Aviation Administration) based in Oklahoma City studies factors that influence human performance in aviation.
- Aeromet Inc. of Tulsa has received millions in R&D funds from the Department of Defense for providing airborne tests, measurements and meteorological support for U.S. Army missile testing.
Center for Aircraft and Systems/Support Infrastructure
The Center for Aircraft and Systems/Support Infrastructure (CASI) is a coordinating point for the services Oklahoma Higher Education provides to the aerospace industry. CASI supports the aerospace community across a broad range of capabilities, including structural/materials, avionics/e.ectronics/software, information technology, environmental and production. In recent years, CASI has performed more than 100 projects, primarily for the Oklahoma City Air Logistics Center and the Federal Administration. This consortium includes all institutions in the state system and is led by the University of Oklahoma, Oklahoma State University, and the University of Tulsa.
Oklahoma Center for the Advancement of Science and Technology
In 1987 the State of Oklahoma created a powerful tool to help new high-tech companies access federal funds for R&D: The Oklahoma Center for the Advancement of Science and Technology (OCAST). OCAST helps foster a competitive technology pipeline from basic research through commercialization and application by helping small companies access funds through the Small Business Innovative Research program.
OCAST provides incentive funding to applied research projects that increase industrial R&D investment and rewards collaborative efforts when combining the resources of two or more organizations is advantageous to the commercial outcome of a project.
State incentive funding helps recipients leverage the capital required to develop and market a technology. Since inception, OCAST has administered $118 million in state-appropriated money and leveraged $5.68 for every dollar spent. That leverage represents more than $500 million invested in Oklahoma research.
Funding is provided for applied research projects up to three years for a minimum of $10,000 and a recommended maximum of $250,000 per year. One example of the many companies that has taken advantage of OCAST is Zivko Aviation of Guthrie.
Zivko, which contracts with the U.S. Navy through the federal Small Business Innovation Research program, received corresponding funds through OCAST to develop an advanced manufacturing process that permits rapid development of lightweight, accurate molds. The Navy used Zivko's technology to test unmanned aerial vehicle deployment
Helmerich Advanced Technology Research Center (ATRC), OSU-Tulsa 
The 123,000-square-foot Helmerich ATRC houses laboratories, meeting facilities, and office space for up to 40 faculty and researchers and 100 graduate students. Other key features include clean rooms for handling special materials, an imaging suite, advanced information technology equipment, and two, high-tech seminar rooms, with one designed for 120 people and the other seating 40.
Helmerich ATRC faculty, research staff, graduate students, and visiting scholars develop and commercialize the next generation of composites and materials for advanced manufacturing in four core areas: materials science and engineering; bio-based technologies; energy technologies; and information and control technologies.
Across those four areas, Helmerich ATRC develops new materials from the application of nanotechnology to ceramics, composites, aerospace materials, polymers, and metals.
The center provides the state's existing industries with practical applications for advanced materials to improve their manufacturing processes, expand operations, and create jobs. New companies will also be created around technology developed at the center.
The Helmerich ATRC will have an annual budget of $8-10 million, including federal and private research funds. However, university officials expect additional revenue and benefit to come from patents and the development of new companies.
The Manufacturing Center for Applied Research (MCAR)
Located at Tulsa Technology Center's Business and Industry Training Center, the Manufacturing Center for Applied Research provides manufacturing solutions in a modern facility that houses state-of-the-art, full-size, integrated machine tools. Services include: technical training and consulting, laser scanning, reverse engineering, prototyping, stereolithography cost analysis, demonstrations, process instrumentation, ISO training and consulting, and LEAN Manufacturing and other process improvement methods.
Contact:
Charles Kimbrough
405-815-5361
800-879-6552
