Corporate Portal

The Office of Corporate Partnerships and Regional Economic Development serves as a bridge between business/industry and the university on behalf of the Office of Vice President for Research and Partnerships, as described in the Lead On strategic plan (Pillar 5, Strategy 1, Tactic 6): Create new Office of Corporate Partnerships to lead the effort to grow strategic research partnerships with private sector and philanthropies. The establishment of this office within OVPRP indicates the importance of industry-sponsored projects to help solve the most pressing problems and to explore promising opportunities through research endeavors.

OCP is a central point of contact for companies to connect with researchers and resources at all schools and colleges on the University of Oklahoma Norman campus. OCP facilitates the initial connection and continues to manage corporate relationships on an ongoing basis.

OCP serves as a resource for our internal and external partners and works closely with Office of Research Services, Office of Legal Counsel, and Office of Technology Commercialization to negotiate and execute the agreements necessary to partner. Our goal is to streamline the process to make collaboration easy!

Contact Us

Joyce Burch

or

Leslie Illston

Email:

corporateresearch@ou.edu

Intellectual Property Options for Corporate Sponsored Research

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For Companies:

OCP is the central point of contact between companies of all sizes and faculty/researchers, and manages productive partnerships by leveraging OU’s world-class research talent to help industry solve their most pressing problems and opportunities.

Please contact OCP to begin a discussion about partnering with the University of Oklahoma. We are responsive, collaborative, and look for mutually beneficial ways to partner.

New! Intellectual Property Options for Corporate Sponsored Research

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For Faculty:

OCP can assist faculty by facilitating networking opportunities with industry, helping with private industry related requests, and managing the resulting relationships. Please contact OCP if you have any questions about connecting with industry, any type of legal agreements, if you would like to offer corporate partners a tour, or have questions about the business community.

Economic Development:

OCP works with area Economic Development Organizations (EDOs) to assist in recruiting new companies to the state. A primary consideration in deciding where to locate a facility is availability of talent. Our office can offer prospective companies information on the curriculum for specific majors, the talent pipeline, and research strengths. The presence of a major research university with talented researchers and potential recruits can sway a company to locate in the region, and a relationship can be established before the company locates in Oklahoma!

About the University Research Campus

OCP is also the point of contact for companies wanting to establish a presence near our faculty and students at University Research Campus (URC). URC is a 277- acre world class collaborative campus environment with partners engaged in academic and private sector research, commerce, and service that leads to social, economic, and academic advancement – improving the global quality of life. Founded in 2003, the URC is home to private companies, academic and research departments and agencies, more than 700 private sector employees, more than 300 Federal employees, and nearly 2000 people who make up what is an award-winning and nationally recognized University Research Campus. The campus focuses on advanced technology across many disciplines, with a strong focus on weather and radar, as home to the National Weather Center and Radar Innovations Lab. The campus has grown from the initial investment in the Stephenson Technology Research Center to include the construction of the National Weather Center, five partner buildings housing private and public entities, the Stephenson Life Sciences Research Center, the Radar Innovations Lab, and new development plans underway.

News & Events

The Oklahoma State Regents held its annual Regents Business Partnership Excellence Award ceremony to recognize success partnerships between businesses and 27 Oklahoma colleges and universities. The Regents recognized Weathernews, Inc., nominated by Bob Palmer and Berrien Moore, for their long-term partnership with OU. Daisuke Abe flew in from Japan to accept the award on behalf of the WNI team.

OU Partners with Space Technology Company Phase Four

Representatives from OU and Phase Four, Inc. signed a memorandum of understanding at the Oklahoma Aerospace Forum to advance collaborative research involving space propulsion technologies. The agreement establishes a framework for fostering collaborative efforts and joint work on U.S. Department of Defense-funded Small Business Innovation Research grants focused on iodine-based in-space propulsion.

November 21, 2024

National Weather Festival Breakfast Brings in Lee Isaac Chung

More than 100 people gathered to hear from Lee Isaac Ching, director of Twisters and the Mandalorian. The event was hosted by the Norman Chamber of Commerce as part of the National Weather Festival Celebrations. Community memebers got to hear how Chung got started in filmaking and his processes for creating Twisters.

October 26, 2024

Life Science Oklahoma Advisory committee at the first Life Science Oklahoma networking event

Joyce Burch from OU’s Office of Corporate Partnerships, is a founding member of Life Science Oklahoma. The group is committed to bringing national and international awareness to key areas of the state’s biotech, drug manufacturing, agricultural science, veterinary medicine and healthcare industries, including therapeutics, diagnostics and biomanufacturing; medical and health technologies; and health and clinical care.

July 11, 2024

Defense Briefing with Congressman Tom Cole

OICP and OADII team memebers attended the Defense Briefing featuring Congressman Tom Cole, hosted by Oklahoma Defense Industry Association. As head of the Appropriations Committee, Congressman Cole holds a crucial role in steering the federal budgeting process and prioritizing funding for all government operations and agencies—including the U.S. Department of Defense and our national security initiatives.

June 20, 2024

OICP Attends Oklahoma Venture Forum Awards

The OVF Awards publicly recognize and honor the achievements of successful businesses in Oklahoma. The applicants and nominees represent the triumph of the entrepreneurial dream and spirit.

The Oklahoma Venture Forum has produced the awards since 1989.

May 16, 2024

Greater OKC Chamber Visits ARRC

Team members from the Greater OKC Chamber visit with Dr. Bob Palmer and tour the Advanced Radar Research Center. The Chamber asked how they can support efforts with the University of Oklahoma to advance economic development pertaining to radar initiatives.

April 24, 2024

Bold Economic Development Initiatives Announced for Cleveland County, Oklahoma

Business leaders and public officials, including Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt, announced several new economic development initiatives today, all meant to generate sustainable economic growth and prosperity by turning good ideas into thriving companies and generating significant jobs for Cleveland County citizens. These initiatives are the culmination of a new strategic alliance between the Norman Economic Development Coalition (NEDC) and Boyd Street Ventures (BSV), made possible by ARPA investments from the Cleveland County Commissioners and Norman City Council, as well as private-sector investments from the Sooner Centurions.

April 18, 2024

Weathernews, Inc. Receives Oklahoma State Regents Business Partnership Excellence Award

The Oklahoma State Regents held its annual Regents Business Partnership Excellence Award ceremony to recognize success partnerships between businesses and 27 Oklahoma colleges and universities. The Regents recognized Weathernews, Inc., nominated by Bob Palmer and Berrien Moore, for their long-term partnership with OU. Daisuke Abe flew in from Japan to accept the award on behalf of the WNI team.

March 26, 2024

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People

Joyce Burch
Director of the Office of Corporate Partnerships and Regional Economic Development

Leslie Illston
Program Manager, Office of Corporate Partnerships and Regional Economic Development

Joyce Burch is the Director of the Office of Corporate Partnerships and Regional Economic Development. Joyce has been with OU for several years, starting in the Entrepreneurship & Economic Development Division in Price College as the Director of Public/Private Partnerships, and also served as Project Manager for the establishment of the Executive MBA in Aerospace & Defense. She assembled the Aerospace & Defense Industry Roundtable, composed of local A&D companies and organizations. The A&D Industry Roundtable advised the university on the requirements and needs of industry and helped to craft the curriculum. Roundtable advisors included leaders from Acorn Growth Companies, Boeing, Tinker AFB, FAA, Northrup Grumman, Booz Allen Hamilton, Delaware Resource Group, Flight Safety, Kratos, and others.

Joyce has 15 years of Economic Development experience and believes that OU’s healthy relationships with industry are beneficial to both the university and the economic growth of the state.

Leslie Illston joined the Office of Corporate Partnerships and Regional Economic Development in February of 2023. Previously Leslie worked at OU for several years as the Development Director for the College of Atmospheric and Geographic Sciences. She has spent most of her career in the non-profit and academic sectors, building corporate and community engagement for various causes.

Leslie enjoys putting her background expertise and her personal passion for supporting research growth together in this capacity.