ABOUT OKLAHOMA

FERTILE GROUND FOR BIOSCIENCE GROWTH

Just as bioscience is the fastest growing economic sector in the United States, in Oklahoma the rapidly growing bioscience sector is emerging as one of the key economic forces in the state. With more than 500 bioscience-related businesses and organizations, the total economic impact of biosciences is more than $3.4 billion.

Predominant within Oklahoma’s diverse bioscience sector are:

• Research, testing & medical laboratories
• Medical devices & equipment
• Drugs & pharmaceuticals
• Agriculture feedstock & chemicals

Oklahoma bioscience spans the state

The Oklahoma City metro area, with a population of over 1.2 million, is the state’s hub of human health-related research and commercialization activity.

Among the facilities located there are the Oklahoma Health Center complex which includes the University of Oklahoma Health Science Center, Presbyterian Hospital, the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, Veterans Administration Hospital, OU Medical Center, the Dean McGee Eye Institute, and the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation.

Across the street is the Presbyterian Health Foundation Research Park, where tenants include Genzyme, LabCorp, Cytovance Biologics, Comentis, Orthocare Innovations, Charlesson LLC, and Selexys Pharmaceuticals, among many others.

Just south of Oklahoma City is the University of Oklahoma Norman campus, which houses OU’s Advanced Center for Genome Technology and Bioinformatics Core Facility.

Ardmore, Oklahoma, halfway between Oklahoma City and Dallas, is home to the Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation, the largest private foundation in the country conducting plant science and agriculture research.

At Oklahoma State University in Stillwater, emphasis is on veterinary medicine and agricultural research, as exemplified by OSU’s Robert M. Kerr Food & Agricultural Products Center.

Located in Tulsa are the University of Tulsa’s Institute of Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, the Warren Foundations’ Laureate Psychiatric Research Center, and the campuses of OU-Tulsa and OSU-Tulsa. 

Oklahoma offers premier facilities

A key competitive advantage is the availability of top-notch facilities. For example:

Presbyterian Health Foundation Research Park in Oklahoma City offers 700,000 square feet of state-of-the-art wet lab and office space in seven buildings located strategically on 27 acres adjacent to the OU Health Sciences Center and the medical complex. More than 50 bioscience and related companies employing 1,300 people already occupy space at the Research Park.

Oklahoma Technology & Research Park (OTRP) is an emerging, collaborative center and high-value business destination for knowledge-based, technology-focused companies in Stillwater – a small, vibrant city in north-central Oklahoma that is home to Oklahoma State University and Meridian Technology Center. OTRP is designed to provide customized facilities in all stages of development, whether seeking a single office, a laboratory, or an entire purpose-built facility.

Oklahoma offers a strong technology and business support infrastructure

Oklahoma has a well developed technology development, commercialization and entrepreneurship support infrastructure, including the Oklahoma Center for the Advancement of Science and Technology (OCAST), i2E, and the Oklahoma Department of Commerce.

OCAST is the state’s technology-based economic development agency. OCAST’s Health Research program, Applied Research Support program, and Plant Science Program support basic and applied research in health, animal and plant sciences. OCAST also provides funding to assist and applicants to the federal SBIR program

i2E, a private, not-for-profit corporation under contract to OCAST, works with Oklahoma companies, inventors, researchers, and entrepreneurs to turn technological innovations into exceptional business opportunities. i2E offers a full array of services that includes enterprise development and the management of the OCAST Technology Business Finance Program (TBFP) and the Oklahoma Seed Capital Fund (OSCF), both of which are funded by the state legislature and provide early stage capital for technology-based companies. i2E is launching an angel fund and provides management for SeedStep Angels, a new angel group.

The Oklahoma Department of Commerce is the state's lead economic development agency. It has identified bioscience as one of the state's targeted industries. In addition to its support for OKBio, Commerce supports and promotes entrpreneurship and administers the state's groundbreaking Quality Jobs business incentives program. In 2007, the legislature established the Oklahoma Bioenergy Center - a collaborative involving OU, OSU and the Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation- within the Department of Commerce.

Oklahoma has an excellent workforce and talent pool

Bioscience employers find a high quality and relatively less expensive workforce in Oklahoma. With a wealth of talent in graduates from its educational institutions, qualified employees are accessible. Additionally, Oklahoma City Community College and Tulsa Community College offer associate degrees and certification programs in biotechnology that support the bioscience industry with specially trained interns and employees.

Oklahoma is a great place to live and raise your family

Oklahoma is as diverse as its biosciences, offering a variety of scenery and multiple living options. From rural to urban living, the entire state enjoys a mild climate, a low cost of living and an impressive quality of life.