Award+to+fund+innovation+at+Southeastern
Summary
DURANT Southeastern Oklahoma State University, along with the University of North Texas, Southern Methodist University, the University of Texas Arlington, and Dallas College, has been awarded funding through the National Science Foundations Regional Innovation Engines program to stimulate economic opportunities across the region.Launched by the NSFs new Directorate for Technology, Innovation and Partnerships and authorized by the federal CHIPS and Science Act of 2022, the program aims to accelerate technology development, address societal challenges, advance national competitiveness and create local, high-wage jobs. According to a release, Southeastern is a member of a team called the Texoma Innovation Engine, among more than 40 teams identified nationwide.Southeastern will partner with the University of North Texas and will be hosting collaborative research and vendor partner seminars twice per year, said Mike Gaffney, director of the Southeastern Aviation Sciences Institute. In addition, we will serve as a regional research partner connecting the Texoma region with the Dallas Metroplex in the development of this Innovative Logistics Engine model.The Texoma engine collaboration also includes industries, economic and workforce development agencies, and other public agencies, including the Texas Research Alliance, Dallas Regional Chamber, DFW International Airport, Hillwood Properties, Texas Transportation Association, Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, Southern Dallas County Inland Port Transportation Management Association, and Southern Oklahoma Development Association.These awardees are part of the fabric of NSFs vision to create opportunities everywhere and enable innovation anywhere, NSF Director Sethuraman Panchanathan said. They will build robust regional partnerships rooted in scientific and technological innovation in every part of our nation. Among other things, innovation hubs will conceptualize new products and services, incubate startups and facilitate commercialization.