Oklahoma State University

PROJECT PURPOSE

Since the founding of its aerospace engineering and aviation programs nearly a century ago, OSU has been the State?s aerospace leader. Today it is uniquely positioned to help navigate technology changes in the sector by pulling together its vast expertise across the aerospace spectrum into a single institute that will pair commercial entities and government agencies with academic experts. The collaborative nature of OAIRE will help drive Oklahoma?s aerospace ecosystem and generate cutting-edge research, while also attracting the commercial enterprise necessary to sustainably increase the State?s high-tech jobs. As a collection of research, development, and educational centers, OAIRE will be in a unique position to bring together a state-wide initiative that will develop Oklahoma as a national aerospace research test bed and become the premier location for innovation and technological development. Collaborations with the OSU STEM Engagement Institute, along with outreach and community engagement, will create a training pipeline to retain talent in the industry, further strengthening the Oklahoma aerospace ecosystem. Developments in the lab will result in buildable creations and components, giving rise to manufacturing opportunities for Oklahoma?s low-cost business environment. The development of one-of-a-kind flight-testing facilities statewide will provide opportunity for companies to bring business to Oklahoma.

EVIDENCE

Institutes like OAIRE have been proven to effectively connect universities and industry ? and help drive commerce ? by serving as: 1) networks of faculty; 2) trusted conveners; 3) supportive communities of scholars; 4) loci for large ideas; 5) skilled facilitators; 6) voices of advocacy; 7) attractors and retainers of talent; and 8) agile conduits for creative funding mechanisms. Bolger, P. (2021), Delivering on the promise: How are sustainability research institutes enabling interdisciplinary research? International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education, 22, 8: 167-189. (Online ? open access) (DOI): https://doi.org/10.1108/IJSHE-10-2020-0415

POPULATION DESCRIPTION

The COVID-19 pandemic impacted virtually all the nation?s private enterprise ? but perhaps none as severely as the aerospace industry. While defense-related aerospace has been able to weather the storm more adroitly, in commercial aviation, companies are experiencing disruption in production and slowing demand as workers go home, passengers stop traveling, and customers defer delivery of new aircraft. Taken together, the toll on the various aspects of the aerospace complex represents a perilous position for one of Oklahoma?s key industries and the workers who depend on it. Nationwide, the aerospace industry faces challenges in the realm of a rapidly growing research and development field, as well as accessing a prepared and diverse workforce at all levels of expertise. Currently, Tinker Air Force Base suggests it could hire every qualified engineering graduate from Oklahoma?s universities - and it would still face a structural shortage. To compete nationally, the State must have a qualified workforce and significant growth and investment in the research and development sector. Absent a mechanism for assuring such growth, the economic prosperity of wide swaths of Oklahoma employment ? including among the most vulnerable service employees ? is at long-term structural risk.

PERFORMANCE MEASURING

As an R1 university with a comprehensive research program across disciplines, Oklahoma State University has robust mechanisms and standard research protocols in place for capturing information, measuring project performance and utilizing data. Leveraging the strength of Oklahoma State University?s standard research processes ? resident both within the College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology and through the Office of the Vice President of Research ? performance will be closely monitored and tracked.

ONGOING INVESTMENT AMOUNT

$

ONGOING INVESTMENT DESCRIPTION

None

ONGOING INVESTMENT REQUIRED

Able to continue operation without additional funding from the State of Oklahoma