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About VPRP

Aerial photo of the research campus

About the Office of the Vice President for Research and Partnerships

The Office of the Vice President for Research and Partnerships (OVPRP) has a robust vision and plan for the Norman and Tulsa campuses as explained in the Research Strategic Framework (PDF). OU, as a flagship public institution, is focused on societal impact through research and creative activity. OU is uniquely positioned to bring disparate academic disciplines, from the core STEM fields to the humanities and fine arts, together to foster creative, comprehensive solutions to global challenges. In our vision for research and creative activity, researchers move beyond and across traditional academic boundaries, collaborating across disciplines and globally with other universities, policymakers, economists, and business leaders to create solutions for a better world. Our goal is to transcend academic disciplines and bring all of OU’s institutional strengths together to tackle global challenges and accelerate the delivery of practical solutions that impact society in direct and tangible ways.

In addition, our Office of Research Services works closely with faculty to enhance success in attracting external funding through support of the development of grant applications, management of contracts, and compliance with regulations. The Office of Innovations and Corporate Partnerships (OICP) enhances OU’s ability to engage strategically with private sector companies interested in research and educational partnerships and growing private sector sponsored research at all three of OU’s campuses. OICP also manages intellectual property and commercialization of technologies in order to facilitate corporate and private sector engagement and enhanced licensing of OU technologies.

The OVPRP also supports and serves a number of large Research Centers and Institutes across the Norman Campus. The Centers were strategically created and designed around large collaborative sponsored research projects and the Strategic Research Verticals. The Research Core Facilities, administered by the OVPRP, provide access to instruments, technologies, and services as well as expert consultation and other services to scientific and clinical investigators, and to research partners from other universities and private industry.

The Office of the Vice President for Research and Partnerships advances the University of Oklahoma’s commitment to Pillar 5 of the Lead On, University Strategic Plan through our support of Norman campus research. We strive to enrich and positively impact Oklahoma, the nation, and the world through research and creative activities. In doing so, we’re actively supporting increases in sponsored research expenditures through internal investments to seed growth. We also endeavor to strengthen interactions with the Congressional delegation, state legislature and the Governor’s office to advance research interests at the University of Oklahoma. Furthermore, we continue to grow our strategic research verticals and cross-cutting foundational organizations.